1987-12-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 (250)

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Further, Mid-Continent prohibits hunting or • carrying, guns within the permit boundary, so the wildlife are, in fact , protected as a result of the mining operations . Continued operations at Coal Basin should have no further adverse effects on wildlife habitat . No further surface disturbance is anticipated . The projected completion of the rock tunnel project (See Section II-B-3-c , Chapter II) will sharply reduce traffic on the present haul roads . The roads, when used infrequently by vehicular traffic , will provide access corridors for deer and elk. The evaluation by the U . S . Forest Service is that : "Coal Creek Basin has provided very good wildlife habitat throughout the 1900 ' s . Habitats have been • diverse, with mountain grassland , aspen, conifer , and oak vegetation abundant and in good juxtaposition with each other . Some riparian and alpine vegetation also contribute to habitat diversity . While mining activity in the area over the past three decades has altered very little physical habitat, it has caused disturbance and displacement of some wildlife species which are particularly sensitive to human activities . Populations of elk, turkey, goshawk and deer are probably lower now than they would be if active mining were not occuring . Little historical information, and no quantitative data on historical wildlife population sizes , exist for Forest lands in Coal Creek Basin. "In general, the Crystal River area has seen the elk population steadily increase over the past several decades . Deer populations increased dramatically in the 1950 ' s through the mid-1960 ' s , then declined , and are now increasing slowly . "Termination of mining operations can have two general positive impacts on wildlife . Abandoned portals , roads , and staging areas can be put into primary production, and provide the physical habitat useful to many wild-. life species . This would be a very small , but significant , . increase in available habitat . The other , more important, impact can be a very significant reduction in human- related activity in Coal Basin . Such improved solitude conditions would permit increases of sensitive wildlife species ' populations . -15- i