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Potential habitat for the bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is present along the South <br />Platte River. During a phone interview with Peter Plage of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service on September 20, 2007, Mr. Plage verified that there are no bald eagle nests or <br />roosts in the vicinity of the proposed development project. <br />Project Effects to Wildlife <br />There is no significant wildlife habitat currently present on the site. The wildlife habitat <br />is significantly degraded-by prior land uses and continuing weedy plant infestations. <br />According to the mineral extraction plan for the Arends, Reinoehl, and Archuleta site, <br />noise and air emissions during mining will cause a temporary disturbance to wildlife. <br />Species such as raccoons, coyotes, deer, and raptors will continue to use the site itself <br />when operations are not active and during contemporaneous reclamation. Bird species <br />will use the periphery of the site and the site itself opportunistically, if prey or food <br />species are present. <br />The proposed project will extract material and leave mining cells covering the majority of <br />the site. Permanent reclamation of the site will entail grading, respreading topsoil, and <br />seeding and planting perennial species that will support wildlife. The mining and <br />reclamation will create more diverse range of habitat on the site. Any areas of open <br />water will sustain species of reptiles and amphibians as well as shorebirds and waterfowl, <br />and create fringe environments favorable to predatory mammals and raptors, as well as <br />an <br />food and water sources for herbivores. With the planting of trees and shrubs, strata d <br />vegetation layers will be added to the site, creating improved cover, foraging, roosting, <br />and nesting areas for wildlife. Improving the cover through seeding and planting will <br />increase wildlife dispersion corridors and "edges" that provide increased habitat <br />diversity.