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I' SECTIONTHREE Scoping ResuRs • The 2006 survey map also indicates there are jurisdictional wetlands adjacent to one 1 portion of the proposed rail line. Wetlands should be protected and avoided. • Location of facilities and soil borrow pits should be carefully considered to avoid the two ' locally important habitat types: sagebrush and pinyon-juniper. • Topsoil is limited in the area and may need to be imported in order to achieve successful 1 reclamation of the gob pile slopes. • In instances where on-site mitigation is not feasible, impacts could be offset by implementing improvements on property recently purchased by the mine along the rail spur. These improvements could include pasture enhancements, water developments, creation of wetlands or other wildlife habitat improvements. • Colorado Department of Wildlife (CDOW) recommends a yearly monitoring program to ' include field surveys and an annual report to assess changes to habitat and species. • Field surveys would be necessary to evaluate the distribution and abundance of important wildlife species and their habitats. • The EIS should provide cumulative impact analyses for impacted resources of concern. ' The EIS should analyze impacts according to airsheds and watersheds rather than political boundaries. The cumulative impact analysis should include additional coal and energy development activities. • The EPA recommends that a Noxious Weed Management Plan be prepared in coordination with State and local agencies and be included in the EIS. The Plan should address control of weeds in all areas where ground disturbances will occur including the ' mine, roads, pipelines, transmission lines, underground cables, railroad lines, etc. It should also address such techniques as washing/cleaning equipment before entering sensitive areas, which will help prevent importation of seeds, etc. • The EIS should include an evaluation of project greenhouse emissions and their potential control technologies to provide public disclosure of this environmental impact. The coal ' mines in general are the most polluting form of energy for the future. • The final EIS should identify how CAM will avoid/reduce pollution at the source as the preferred course of action at the facility to lessen the need to recycle, treat, and otherwise 1 implement Pollution Prevention objectives. • The BLM should institute an active monitoring system regiment to ensure that coal ' exploration and associated activities continue to follow mitigation measures, stipulations, procedures, and regulations after the initial development phase of the project is complete. ' • Soil compaction may result from vehicles associated with the proposed project. Soil compaction can cause numerous ill effects on plant species. The BLM should consider the effects that vehicles will have on the soil, and identify mitigation measures to reduce ' these effects. • The BLM must survey for sensitive soils to determine the extent to which they exist in the project area. The BLM must also undertake field sampling and surveying to ' determine if biological soil crusts do occur in the project area; the BLM must take into 3-5