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• Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: <br />Proposed Action - Potential impacts on terrestrial wildlife as described in the 2005 <br />Spruce Stomp EA and subsequent USFS BAs, BEs, and Management Indicator Species <br />Assessments (USFS 2008a, 2008b, 2009) continue to adequately describe the types, and scope, of <br />impacts that may occur as a result of the proposed CEL activities. <br />Cumulative Impacts - Disturbance of terrestrial wildlife in the Terror Creek watershed <br />would continue to take place as a result of coal mining, livestock grazing, recreation, timber <br />sales, and other human activities. The proposed action is unlikely to result in a detectable change <br />in habitat values or local wildlife populations, especially for the long-term. <br />No Action Alternative - There would be no impacts to terrestrial wildlife as a <br />consequence of coal exploration activities. <br />Finding on the Public Land Health Standard for plant and animal communities <br />(partial - see also Vegetation, Invasive, Non-native Species; and Wildlife, Aquatic): Terrestrial wildlife habitat <br />on public lands is currently meeting public land health standards (BLM 2007b), and the proposed <br />CEL is unlikely to result in a failure of public lands to meet public land health standards for <br />terrestrial wildlife (see also migratory birds, and Endangered and Sensitive wildlife). <br />WILDLIFE, AQUATIC (includes a finding on Standard 3) <br />Affected Environment: Aquatic habitat is present in Terror Creek, West Terror Creek, and <br />East Terror Creek. Greenback cutthroat trout are known to be present in the East and West Forks <br />of Terror Creek and are believed to be present in Terror Creek (Speas 2010, Carillo 2010). This <br />species is discussed in the endangered species section of this document. Additional species <br />known to be present in this stream system include speckled dace and mottled sculpin (Carillo <br />2010). It is likely that additional species are present. Terror Creek and its East and West Forks <br />are well shaded by riparian vegetation, possess stable stream banks, and stable substrates. <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: <br />Proposed Action - Some short-term increases in sediment loading associated with road <br />and pad construction and use would be likely especially during high intensity storm events. With <br />the mitigation and other conservation practices included with the proposed action, it is not <br />expected that there would be any lasting effects on aquatic life, or on aquatic habitats as a <br />consequence of the proposed CEL activities. The design features of the proposed action, which <br />would limit erosion, protect water quality, avoid direct impacts to riparian communities, and <br />meet the requirements of the 2009 and 2010 BAs and USFWS concurrence (Monarch and <br />Associates 2009, BLM 2010c, USFWS 2009, USFWS 2010b), should result in minimal impacts <br />to riparian communities as a result of CEL activities. See also the revised Conditions for Use <br />and Protection of Non-mineral Resources (Appendix A) for USFS lands. <br />Cumulative Impacts - Disturbance of aquatic species in the Terror Creek watershed <br />would continue to take place as a result of coal mining, livestock grazing, recreation, timber <br />sales, and other human activities. Due to the short-term nature, small acreage impacted, and <br />minimal water use predicted for the CEL activities, it is unlikely that the proposed coal <br />exploration would contribute to a detectable increase in cumulative impacts on aquatic species in <br />the Terror Creek watershed. <br />DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2010- 0017 EA Page 31 of 43 May 2010