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'~ <br />SECTIONTHREE <br />Scoping Results , <br />• The proposed coal mine waste disposal area (gob pile) is sited on a sagebrush bench that ' <br />has moderate to heavy use by wintering elk and moderate use by wintering mule deer. <br />• Desert sagebrush habitats aze critically important to wildlife and once disturbed cannot be <br />replaced in the neaz term. CDOW recommends minimizing disturbance in the sagebrush , <br />and pinyon juniper habitats to preserve their value as big game winter ranges. <br />• The railway's activity would likely cause displacement and could have a wildlife ' <br />avoidance fringe effect. This could move wildlife away from water sources they <br />currently use. CDOW suggests these impacts be considered and consult with CDOW <br />with regazd to creation of additional watering locations for wIldlife mitigation. <br />• The crucial habitat contained within the proposed project area is of significant concern. <br />The Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) has identified several species of <br /> <br />concern. Those aze: white-tailed prairie dog, midget faded rattlesnake, grand buckwheat, ' <br />bald eagle, ki[ fox, Uinta basin hookless cactus, longnosed leopazd lizard, and the <br />razorback sucker. ' <br />• The BLM must develop mitigation measures for white-tailed prairie dogs and their <br />habitat in order to avoid the destruction of individual white-tailed prairie dogs, occupied <br />white-tailed prairie dog habitat, and the ecosystem upon which other listed and sensitive ' <br />species rely. <br />• Mineral exploration within its range will bring the midget faded rattlesnake into more <br /> <br />frequent contact with people and motor vehicles, which, in turn, will increase snake ' <br />mortality. Being a ground dwelling species, the snake is especially susceptible to lazge- <br />scale surface disturbing activities within its habitat. <br />• Only 34 occurrences of the grand buckwheat are known globally. One of the most <br />significant threats to the species is the proximity of roads. The grand buckwheat is a <br />species that is especially vulnerable to significant surface disturbing activities, such as a ' <br />major coal mining operations within its habitat. <br />• The coal mine project and its associated disturbances will have a significant impact on ' <br />the local natural environment, including impacts on potential bald eagle habitat and food <br />supply. <br />• The kit fox is one of Colorado's most vulnerable species with less than 100 individuals in ' <br />the state. The fox lives in the semi-desert shrub lands extending from Montrose to Grand <br />Junction. A major threat to the kit fox is habitat loss due to conversion of the foxes' <br /> <br />native grounds to agriculture and development usage. ' <br />• The greatest threat to the Uinta basin hookless cactus is habitat destruction or <br />modification by development of energy extraction, water storage projects, transportation, ' <br />and residential facilities. Neazly al] populations of the cactus are threatened by these <br />actions. <br />• Within the state, the longnose leopard lizard is known to exist only in the desert azeas of ' <br />western Colorado. The lizard is especially susceptible to impacts resulting from habitat <br />alteration, degradation, and destruction caused by commercial uses and invasion of exotic , <br />3-8 ' <br />