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enable underground mining of Panel 16 and 17, and EI (the remaining longwall panels in <br />this mining district). <br />The cumulative impacts over time and space associated with GVB drilling and access <br />needs may cause reduced habitat quality and effectiveness for elk which are dependent on <br />some degree of security especially during the hunting season. <br />Roads associated with GVB needs over the next few years depending on location, use, <br />and success in obliteration and/or closures may impact remaining security aeeas and <br />ultimately hunter opportunity. Based on the increase of motorized roads and trails <br />resulting in a decrease of security aeeas, designated routes should be identified as soon as <br />feasible to provide for quality security areas to elk and other wildlife. <br />3.A.4 Mitigations: Some wildlife mitigations aze included in the Potential Conditions of <br />Approval given in Appendix B. Other potential mitigations are as follows: <br />1. Require installation of traffic counters in locations identified by FS to monitor degree <br />of motorized use during the two year GVB monitoring period. <br />2. To minimize effects to wintering elk close azea to vehicular use other than for purpose <br />of MCC drilling activities and administration, and other administrative use from Dec. 1 <br />through April 30th. This closure should be at the bottom of FR 711 (at the corrals). <br />3. The Forest will comply with mitigation measures identified as "reasonable and <br />prudent alternatives" in the Biological Opinion issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service for this action for the four endangered Colorado River fish species. <br />4. When additional findings or information of threatened, endangered, proposed, or <br />sensitive species is discovered a new biological evaluation or biological assessment will <br />be written and mitigation to protect these species or their habitat will be incorporated into <br />the conditions of approval. <br />5. Allow access along a single corridor to minimize effects on wintering wildlife. <br />In addition to the mitigation measures listed above, [he following standard practices will <br />be followed: <br />1. A limited operating period from March 1 through July 31 will be imposed in <br />aeeas one quarter mile of goshawk nests determined to be active on any activities if they <br />would cause nesting failure or abandonment. The boundaries of the Limited Operating <br />Period (LOP) will be determined by and the District Wildlife Biologist. <br />2. No activities shall be allowed within one mile of an active bald eagle or peregrine <br />falcon nest from February 1 to July 31 if they would cause abandonment. <br />19 <br />