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Midget Faded Rattlesnake (Crotalus viridis concolor) preferred habitat includes rocky <br />outcrops in areas where sage is the abundant vegetation and has been found as high as 8,000 feet <br />in elevation. The Midget Faded Rattlesnake is endemic to a small area of southwestern <br />Wyoming, northwestern Colorado, and adjacent Utah. The Midget Faded Rattlesnake is known <br />to occur in Routt County due to sightings and/or habitat. This species was not sighted in the <br />1979 to 1980 study on site or adjacent to the mine site. <br />As the mine is in permanent cessation no impact to the species in Colorado that are <br />threatened, endangered or species of special concern at the state and/or federal levels or habitat is <br />expected. <br />2.7.3 MINING AND RECLAMATION INFORMATION <br />The impact on wildlife from mining in the Moffat and West Ridge areas will be primarily <br />a short term physical loss of habitat. All species of birds and mammals that occur in the areas to <br />be disturbed by the mining and reclamation will be impacted by this loss. No unique species or <br />habitats have been found to occur in the permit area. The degree to which wildlife will be <br />impacted will depend upon the species in question, the amount and availability of suitable nearby <br />habitat, the mobility of the species and the speed and success of reclamation. It is not presently <br />known if the habitat types both on and around the areas to be disturbed are supporting peak <br />populations (are at their carrying capacity). Because similar habitat commonly occurs outside of <br />the permit area, it is assumed that an unknown but potentially significant portion of the wildlife <br />will be able to relocate. In addition to the physical loss of habitat, increased noise and human <br />activity will affect wildlife in the areas near mining. <br />The way in which the two areas will be mined will also have an effect upon the severity <br />of impacts to wildlife. The West Ridge area will be mined in a way such that the more mobile <br />species of wildlife that use the area will be able to move unrestricted into adjoining habitat. <br />Additionally, by the time the second phase of mining occurs on West Ridge (following the <br />mining of the Moffat area) vegetation in the reclaimed areas to the east will be well established. <br />This will afford additional habitat into which the displaced wildlife will be able to relocate. The <br />mining in the Moffat Area will hinder does with young fawns from reaching the primary source <br />of water for the area -Trout Creek. <br />2.7-63g Revised 11/06 <br />