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8. Habitat Destruction Has Adverse Effects on Plants and Animals that the BLM Must <br />Consider <br />The key spatial processes that cause isolation and loss of habitat overtime are `fragmentation <br />(i.e., breaking up a larger/intact habitat into smaller dispersed patches); dissection (i.e., splitting <br />an intact habitat into two patches sepazated by a corridor); perforation (i.e., creating "holes" <br />within an essentially intact habitat); shrinkage (i.e., the decrease in size of one or more habitats); <br />and attrition (i.e., the disappearance of one or more habitat patches)" (Dramstad 1996). Habitat <br />fragmentation occurs whenever there is a change in the spatial continuity of the habitat that <br />affects occupancy, survival or reproduction in a particular species, whether or not a net loss of <br />habitat accompazues that spatial change (Franklin et al. 2002). Roads, raihoads, powerlines, and <br />trails tend to be connected and subject to regular human disturbance. For this reason, these <br />corridors "serve as barriers that subdivide populations of species into metapopulations; conduits <br />mainly for disturbance-tolerant species, and sources of erosion, sedimentation, exotic species, <br />and human effects on nature" (Dramstad 1996). Roads particularly have consistently been <br />proven to fragment and degrade wildlife habitat, encourage noxious weeds, disturb wildlife, and <br />alter movements and migrations. The BLM must fully analyze the consequences of <br />fragmentation, dissection, perforation, shrinkage, and attrition as it applies to the project area. <br />Based on the findings from this analysis, the BLM must develop measures to prevent or <br />minimize loss and isolation of habitat due to the key spatial processes listed above and its effects <br />on Special Status Species. <br />9. BLM Must Consider the Impact the Proposed Project May Have on the Local <br />Watershed and Water Bodies <br />' The BLM must consider the impact that the proposed coal mine and its associated structures and <br />activities may have on the watershed, nearby waterbodies, aquatic species and habitat, and local <br />drinking water quality. <br />10. Coal Mine Waste Could Be Harmful To Animal Species <br />The BLM must consider the impact that the coal mine waste disposal azea may have on wildlife <br />and special status animal species should these species come in contact with the disposal area. <br />The BLM must also consider the environmental impacts that the coal mine waste disposal area <br />could have on the watershed, nearby waterbodies, and aquatic species should chemicals and <br />substances from the waste disposal area enter the watershed. <br />11. Roads and Rail lines Will Adversely Impact Plants and Animal Species <br />This coal exploration project will require roads and rail lines which, in and of themselves, <br />increase ecological costs as well as invite travel and habitat damage by ORV's. A coal <br />exploration project requires constant vehicular traffic to, among other things, transport extracted <br />minerals within and out of the project area, to monitor and maintain infrastructure associated <br />with the project, and to move workers about the project azea. Increased traffic disrupts plants and <br />Center for Native Ecosystems Page l3 of 24 <br />Scoping Comments for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine <br />