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• Adherence to CDOW raptor guidelines regarding buffer zones and timing <br />restrictions; <br />• Minimal disturbance to mule deer and elk winter range areas in Sections 9, 10 <br />&16 (T8S R 102W); <br />Incorporation of big game crossing areas along the coal conveyor line route; <br />• Habitat improvements and easements on adjacent deer & elk winter range <br />habitat; <br />• Creation of 3 additional watering sites for pronghorn antelope on each side of <br />the rail spur, and measures designed to facilitate crossing of the spur; <br />• Incorporation of more adequate amounts of big sagebrush, Gardner & shadscale <br />saltbush, and greasewood into the revegetation mixtures, along with the <br />elimination of crested wheatgrass and ongoing control of weeds in disturbed <br />areas; <br />• Installation of 1 chukar water guzzler to serve birds displaced from waste rock <br />area; <br />Installation of raptor perch deterrents on all new power poles; <br />• Adoption of a fire control strategy to eliminate the potential for mine/rail related <br />wildfires; <br />With regard to water issues, we are concerned that liquid waste from a variety of <br />sources captured at the project area, including runoff from the gob, is proposed to be <br />discharged directly into washes that connect to surface waters. Discharges into washes <br />will eventually reach East Salt Creek, Salt Creek, and the Colorado River, potentially <br />affecting every wildlife species, common to endangered, along the way. <br />We feel it is extremely important to ensure that the liquids discharged into open washes <br />be of sufficient quality as to not negatively impact wildlife or vegetation. Without <br />specific knowledge the contents of each waste stream and the conditions CDPHE-WQCD <br />will place on the discharge permit, we cannot make that assessment. We remain <br />concerned about the potential for selenium, arsenic, cadmium, mercury from mine <br />water and gob runoff to filter into alluvial groundwater and enter the surface water <br />system via the wastewater stream. <br />Ethylene glycol is often sprayed on coal and rail cars during the winter months to <br />address problems related to freezing. Antifreeze is highly toxic to all forms of terrestrial <br />and aquatic wildlife. Any discharge of ethylene glycol will have extreme negative