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these systems in terms of reduced incidence ofroad-kills. Mass transit systems were installed for the Tract C-a <br />and Tract C-b oil shale developments in Piceance Basin. The effectiveness of the mass •transit system in <br />reducing mule deer road-kills was not analyzed by Tract C-a (per. comm. Jack Clazk, Tract C-a), but some <br />. preliminary analysis has been done by Tract C-b (per. comm. Tom Pysto, Occidental Oil Shale Company). <br />Tract C-b has done some preliminary modeling using data collected for several yeazs on variables such as <br />weather conditions, number ofroad-killed deer, and traffic levels. The data collection period included the time <br />span that their busing program was in operation. Their preliminary findings have, interestingly, indicated that <br />the number of mu]e deer road-kills were relatively independent of traffic levels and were more dependent on <br />weather conditions and number of animals concentrated along the road (pers. comm. Tom Pysto, Occidental Oil <br />Shale Company). In other words, they had a higher incidence of road-killed deer when snow levels forced deer <br />to congregate along the road, and this increase occurred independently of traffic levels. These Endings may <br />apply only to the Piceance Creek Road, but they do pose some questions regarding the effectiveness of mass <br />~ transit systems over other methods with respect to reducing big game road-kills. <br />~. <br />Information on cost/benefit analyses of mass transit systems used for reducing big game road-kills is virtually <br />nonexistent since data on their effectiveness are not readily available. Reed et al. (1982) used information on <br />vehicle repair costs, economic value of deer, the costs of establishment and maintenance of fencing, and <br />incidence of road-killed mule deer (before and after fencing) to compute acost-benefit ratio for deer-proof <br />fencing installed along Interstate 70. In their paper, Reed et al. stressed that this type of analysis can only be <br />conducted if before-and-after big game mortality figures are available for the mitigation technique in question. <br />They also stressed that the decision maker should be especially cognizant of pre-existing mortality figures <br />before expensive mitigation techniques aze employed. <br />In summary, factors such as posted speed limits and timing of peak traffic should considerably reduce the <br />potential for big game/vehicle collisions. TCC will employ these measwes as part of its procedwes to minitnize <br />road-kills. Since data on baseline levels and projected increases for road-kills aze generally lacking, there is a <br />need to have road-kill figures available in order to identify problem areas or address the need or effectiveness of <br />mitigation measures. It is prematwe at this time to make a decision regazding the need for a mass transit system <br />for the Foidel Creek Mine. It may be advisable to monitor big game road-kills along the access and haul roads <br />to determine if there is a need for a mass transit system or other mitigative measwes. Details of a possible big <br />game road-kill monitoring program are provided in the response to Rule 2.05.6(2). <br />Impacts <br />Because the proposed expansion of the Foidel Creek mine will be entirely underground, impacts to wildlife in <br />the permit azea aze expected, for the most part, to be minimal. The only surface distwbance associated with the <br />proposed mine, in addition to the main portal and facilities areas already disturbed, aze the Fish' Creek Borehole <br />/Shaft Area and associated treatment ponds, 10-Right borehole and powerdrop, Northwest Mains Ventilation <br />Fan, 6-Main North Ventilation Shafr and ancillary facilities, 18-Right Bleeder Shaft, and the associated access <br />roads. <br />Placement of access roads will be primarily along existing dirt roads, but there will be some upgrading and <br />widening of these roads. Habitats traversed by the access roads will include cropland, reclaimed pastweland, <br />mountain sagebrush, low sagebrush, and sagebrush/meadow. Most of the disturbance will occw in cropland and <br />reclaimed pastweland. Since the principal habits to be disturbed are cropland, pastweland and reclaimed land, <br />impacts to wildlife through habitat loss are expected to be negligible. <br /> <br />PR06-07 2.04-78 11/07/06 <br />