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' It is well-known that construction equipment and motorized vehicles are transporters of noxious weeds. Therefore, it is likely that construction activities associated with this project will transport noxious weed species into the area. The BLM must consider the extent to which vehicular traffic ' may lead to the introduction of nonnative species and the impact this threat may have on special status plant species. The BLM must also develop mitigation measures that apply to vehicular traffic in order to reduce or eliminate the threat that invasive species may have on natural plant ' communities and rare plants. Surface disturbances are a major contributing factor to nonnative species introduction and ' invasion. Zink ea al. (1995) studied the effects of disturbance associated with a pipeline on an ecological reserve in California. Ten years after pipeline construction, the researchers found that vegetation along the pipeline corridor consisted of "a relatively homogeneous community of ' exotic species (not in the original seed mix...) along its entire length and bears little resemblance to the native habitats through which it passes" (p. 304). These exotics began invading the undisturbed interior of the reserve in addition to the corridors. The authors noted, "In the case of ' corridor disturbances within ecological reserves, the newly established exotic community may also spread into susceptible undisturbed communities and degrade an area specifically set aside for protection" (pp. 308-309). Also, soil organic matter was significantly lower along the ' pipeline than in undisturbed habitats. Emphasizing the unique impacts associated with disturbance corridors, the authors predicted that "the construction of a corridor through a preserved area could lead to the establishment of an exotic annual plant community because a ' corridor maybe connected to areas where exotic species have already become established and may provide an invasion pathway" (pp. 307-308). ' When paired together, the combination of surface disturbance and vehicular traffic could have a serious adverse impact on native plant communities, raze plants, and the overall functioning ecosystem in the area. The BLM must consider these two activities and the increased potential ' for nonnative species establishment they mutually present. The BLM must also develop mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate the threat posed by these activities on nonnative plant communities, rare plants, and the overall functioning ecosystem. 7. Noise May Adversely Impact Animal Species ' Motorized vehicles, including trucks, cars, trains, and helicopters, mining and seismic exploration activities, construction activities, explosions, and any other activity that may create excessive noise associated with the proposed project may have ill effects on animals species. Krause (1993) suggests that disturbances to a soundscape could leave an animal unable to adequately communicate and employ their auditory senses within its habitat -this, in turn, could ' be detrimental to the survivorship of these individuals and to the general biological integrity of the environment. ' According to Busnel (1978) the physiological responses that wildlife generally experience when exposed to human-made noise includes increased heart rate and altering of metabolism and hormone balance. Busnel found that behavioral reactions experienced by wildlife include body Center for Native Ecosystems Scoping Comments for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mina Page I I of 24 ~'x