Laserfiche WebLink
<br />' Climate change can disrupt reproductive processes and other important life cycles of plant, <br />atrimal, and aquatic species. Different species will respond to climate change in varying ways. <br />t Species that evolved together and adapted in response to one another's phenology may <br />experience a loss of synchrony whereby natural events such as flowering and pollinator <br />emergence that once were timed concurrently become offset because of differing responses to <br />climatic cues. Species may therefore no longer be able to rely on the services once provided by <br />other species (McCarty 2001). This may have serious implications for the Sensitive species in <br />the proposed project area. <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />The BLM has the ability to take action on climate change by limiting the threats it can control. <br />When making decisions on various land use activities such as mineral extraction or when <br />developing conservation strategies and plans for Sensitive species, the BLM must carefully <br />consider climate change. "[R]egional reserve networks, landscape connectivity, and <br />management of the matrix between core reserves [aze] all concepts that are key in effective <br />conservation responses to climate change (Noss & Harris 1986; Noss et al. 1999; Soule & <br />Terborg 1999; Gascon et al. 2000)." This means the BLM needs to provide 1) sufficient habitat <br />for movement through time and space given varying climate regimes, and 2) sufficient habitat to <br />allow for functional ecosystems and natural processes even under compromised climatic <br />situations. McCarty (2001) cautions that: <br />[C]onservation scientists need to look at climate change as a current, not just a <br />future, threat to species. Although a causal link to climate cannot yet be <br />rigorously demonstrated, the consistent patterns indicate that the prudent course <br />for conservation is to take these changes seriously. Certainly, cases such as the <br />extinction of the golden toad are of immediate concern, but changes in climate <br />need to be taken into account as a possible factor contributing to declines in other <br />species. <br />At 327. <br />17. The BLM Must Consider Indirect and Consequential Impacts To the Environment <br />' Extractive industries create numerous insults to the surrounding land, water, and biotic <br />communities. These insults include air and water pollution, noise and vibration pollution, habitat <br />destruction and modification, introduction of noxious plant species, and surface and sub-surface <br />' modifications. Associated infrastructure of roads, rail lines, pipelines, power lines, and other <br />comdors as well as surface structures and traffic from motorized vehicles, in addition to causing <br />direct damage, will inevitably lead to extensive subsequent impacts such as off road vehicle use. <br />Another subsequent impact that the BLM must consider is the degree to which the coal extracted <br />from this mine will lead to global warming. Coal emits more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere <br />' per BTU than virtually any other energy source. If 8 million tons of coal are extracted from this <br />mine each year, as proposed in the Notice of Tntent, this project will be a major contributor to <br />Center for Native Ecosystems <br />Scoping Comments for the Proposed Red Cliff Coal Mine <br />Page 17 of 24 <br />',~~ <br />