2009-08-24_PERMIT FILE - C1994082

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Altogether, short term habitat loss in these areas could probably total SD acres and tong • term habitat loss will be 70.2 acres. This is not expected to significantly affect: the Local population. Sage grouse ere not known to habitually avoid roads, so loss of use of adjacent habitat will probably be low. However, there could be a minor impact due to the potential for increased roedkills, Long term impacts on this species from mining et roast ere considered negligible because impacts caused by Conversion of the haulroed after mining will be partially offset b•y restoring reclaimed habitat suitable for use by sage grouse in areas previously occupied by mountain brush habitat. Raptors. Of the 27 raptor nests found within the wildlife study area and 1-mile perimeter, only 11 are located on the permit area (Exhibit 11-1). Five of those nests (Coopers hawk nests CH1, CH2, and CH3; red-tailed hawk nest RTH2; and great horned owl nest GH02) will be removed by mining. Two more red-tailed hawk nests (RTH4a and RTH46) are potentially close enough to mining or mining-related activity to be affected by disturbance. Three nests outside the permit area (RTH6, CHba, and CHbb) are also close enough to possibly be affected by disturbance. Although mining at Toast will affect the nests of several raptor pairs, either through • direct nest removal or indirect Disturbance, the impact on the raptors themselves is not as Certain. Favored nesting habitat for all raptors encountered was large aspen trees, which grow in scattered groves surrounded by mountain brush and sagebrush. This interspersion of habitats is very typical of the region surrounding Yoast. During baseline wildlife studies, pairs were sometimes found nesting in very close proximity to one another, fn tlrainages on opposite sides of a single ridge. In other places, apparently suitable habitat was unoccupied. It appears that the habitat can support a high density of nesting pairs, and that there is adjacent habitat available to accommodate displaced pairs. The short term and long term impacts of mining on the local raptor populations will likely be negligible. Not all suitable nesting habitat on the permit area will be removed by mining, Only a minor amount of nesting habitat will be lost. Although reclaimed habitats will not immediately provide the large trees needed for nesting, it is anticipated that those areas will furnish adequate foraging habitat since prey populations and hunting characteristics in reclaimed areas will be good. C b Revised 06/78/95 ~,