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The small mammals and songbirds identified during baseline studies are all common to <br /> agricultural areas, as well as grass and shrub lands that predominate in the area. <br /> Land Use. Premining land use has been primarily agricultural, both as pasture and hay <br /> production. Wildlife use has been of secondary importance. Postmining land use plans (as <br /> described in Tab 22 - Revegetation Plan) are designed around reestablishing grazing and <br /> optimizing the potential use of the area by wildlife. <br /> Wildlife-Reclamation Relationships. As shown in Tab 22 - Revegetation Plan and Exhibit <br /> 22-1, the post-reclamation vegetation groupings are represented by different permanent <br /> seed mixtures and species selected from various shrub and tree planting lists. The <br /> dryland pasture mix and the stream channel and diversion mix are designed specifically for <br /> erosion control and grazing, but will also provide benefits to wildlife. The shrubs and <br /> tree plantings are designed to optimize habitat diversity, in both vertical (upward from <br /> ground to tree canopy) and horizontal relationships. The plantings (as shown on Exhibit <br /> 13-1) will provide vertical habitat in excess of baseline conditions. Especially along <br /> the drainages, this will provide increased songbird habitat, cover for pheasants and <br /> doves, and eventually, nesting sites for raptors which are not currently nesting on the <br /> study area. <br /> Forb establishment is very important from a wildlife standpoint. The proposed species <br /> lists include agriculturally important forbs that also have good utility for wildlife. <br /> Further forb establishment will be accomplished by natural invasion. On existing <br /> reclamation at another Peabody Mine (Big Sky Mine, Rosebud County, Montana), forb invasion <br /> has been significant on reclamation lands (ECON, Inc., 1979). <br /> Wildlife Protection Relationships <br /> Threatened, Endangered or Protected Plants or Animals. Baseline studies have not revealed <br /> any threatened, endangered or protected plants and animals or their critical habitat. <br /> However, if during the course of mining, a protected species is detected, the proper <br /> regulatory agency(ies) will be immediately informed and, after consultation, the best <br /> course of action will be determined. <br /> General Wildlife Protection Procedures. As further protection of the wildlife resource <br /> during and after mining, the following considerations or actions have been, or will be <br /> taken: <br /> 23-3 Revised 04/11/88 <br />