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' Blucslone an~i Section 16 Wildlife Issues Report Western Aggn-gates, Inc. <br />it would Ilot be affected. Down gradient sites would not be directly or indirectly affected by <br />mining activity, as described in section 4.1 Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. <br />There are no Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act <br />' (CERCLA) sites on or near proposed mining areas. <br />4.6 WLLDLIFE REINTRODUCTION AREAS <br />' The plains sharp-tailed grouse (7ympa,'tuc/:tcr p/tasiartel/us jamesii) is a state endangered <br />species. The subspecies presently occurs only in Gambel oak and other shrublands lacking <br />' conifers in Douglas County (Hoag and Braun 1990, Andrews and Righter 1992). Although <br />there is no more than circumstantial evidence that plains sharp-tailed grouse ever occurred <br />in Bould<;r County (Henderson 1909, Betts 1913, Alexander 1937, Figgs 1982), its historic <br />' distribution may have included portions of Jefferson County (Rogers 1969), including the <br />RFP buffer zone. The CDOW's recovery plan includes transplanting birds to the most <br />' suitable Habitats left in the state. Howard (1994) indicated that the north and south buffer <br />zones at the RFP have been included on a recent priority list of preferred release sites. <br />' Suitabiliri of any reintroduction area must include compatible long-term land use and <br />ownership. Land ownership within the RFP buffer zone is complicated by different owners <br />of surfacl° lands and mineral rights. Western Aggregates has committed to avoiding and <br />t protecting those lands below the pediments in the Rock Creek drainage for the life of <br />mining. Those lands contain the most suitable habitats for plains sharp-tailed grouse within <br />the permit area and some of the best within the buffer zone. However, after ± 25 years of <br />mining, land use of the Habitat Preservation Area within the Rock Creek drainage is <br />presently uncertain. Land uses on other sizeable areas within and adjacent to the buffer <br />' zone are similarly uncertain and also affect reintroduction viability. If long-term land use <br />of a suffit:ient area of suitable, undisturbed grouse habitat can be assured within the buffer <br />zone, the site might be viable as a reintroduction area. Additional acreage could be added <br />' as lands are acquired. However, transplants must wait until sufficient habitat can be <br />guaranteed in perpetuity. <br />4.7 RECLAMATION PLAN <br />' Wildlife modifications to the Bluestone and Section 16 reclamation plans have been <br />' discussed in section 4.1 Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. Additional modifications are <br />being proposed to restore mined lands on Section 16 to tall grass prairie. Restoration of a <br />more diverse, native grassland would benefit some wildlife species, but that effort is primarily <br />' vegetation oriented. <br /> <br />Western Ecos}slems, Inc. 2Q December, 1994 <br />