PERMFILE137449

• Permit No: C1980005A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 9/12/2006
• Section_Exhibit Name: Tab 13 Postmining Land Use
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

interest is the use of the area by big game, upland game birds, and raptors. The Coorado Division of
Wildlife (CDOW) has identified the general vidnity of the permit area as a produdion area and winter range
for mule deer and elk. The region has also been designatetl as general distribution areas for sage grouse
and sharp-tailed grouse. Raptors, including golden eagles, are also present in the area. Other important
speces in the region indude sandhill cranes. Wildlife studies and species observed on the Seneca II permit
area are detailed in Tab 11, Wildl'de Survey, as well as the annual wildlife monitoring reports.
Elk use in the area, very common during the winter months and in the spring during green-up of herbaceous
species, is year-round. Aerial censusing of big game has been conduded since fhe mid-198(]5 and results
are presented in annual wildlife monitoring reports for the Seneca II Mine. Large herds of elk and lessor
numbers of mule deer are present on redaimed areas during the winter months. Mule deer are also
common on the permR area throughout the year. Elk calving may occur in area aspen stands, particularty in
larger aspen stands just off the permit area.
Upland game birds are not common on the permit area, with pdmarily sharp fail grouse being sighed.
Raptors, on the other hand, are faidy common over the area, with golden eagles being of particular interest.
golden eagle nests are located north, west, and south of the permR area. These birds Curve been observed
hunting over redaimed lands. Other common raptors observed on redaimed areas indude red-tailed
hawks, marsh hawks, and turkey vultures.
• Thus, the Seneca II permit area provides a variety of habitat for many wildlife species common to
northwestern Colorado. Studies and observations indicate utilization of the area by b49 game and other
wildl'de spades is common throughout the year. Exhibit 13-6 illustrates the continuum of available
vegetation communities and habitat types from the pennd area disturbance boundary to one-half mile out
from this boundary.
Postminina Land Use
The revegetafion plan has been developed to achieve a primary postmining land use of livestock grazing
and a secondary use of wildlde habitat. It will also aid in landfonn stability and mitigate impads to
vegetation resources. Furthermore, this plan is designed to meet DMG Rules and Regulations that state:
"All areas affected by surface coal mining operations shall ~ restored in a timely manner. (1) to conditions
that are capable of supporting the uses which they were capable of supportirg before arty mining; a (2) to
higher or better uses .,." (4.16.1(1),(2). While mitigation of impads to vegetation resources will be facilitated
by application of best current technology, limitations are to be expeded because of the inherent lengthy
successional time frames and ecological charaderistics assodated with regional native vegetation.
Redaimed areas w)11 be dominated initially with herbaceous vegetation that will berrefd livestock grating acrd
wildlife habitat After kxreful consideration of wildlife habitat needs in the area, observafiarrs of wildlife use
on redaimed areas, and how the postmine redaimed landscape and plant communities would integrate wrth
• the undisturbed land forms, vegetation communities, and habitat sunounding the pennft area, H is estimated
this should not result in significant impacts. Again, successional time frames and the required land farm
stab8tzatiwr practices play important riles in the type Of vegetaton initially esTablistred an the reclaimed
TR-37 133 Revised04/05