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Environmental Scientists and Engineers, I..LC <br />large habitat reduction. In accordance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />(CMLRB) regulations, the need for impact control measures and mitigation to protect and <br />enhance wildlife habitat within the proposed lease area will be determined during mine <br />permitting in coordination with CDMG, CDOW, and USFWS. With implementation of <br />site - specific impact control and mitigation measures, the proposed action is not likely to <br />result in a major impact to regional wildlife and big game populations. <br />Aquatic <br />Fish habitat on the proposed lease area is essentially non - existent due to the lack of <br />perennial water bodies except stock ponds and some seep areas. Amphibian populations <br />will probably not be adversely affected. The impacts of leasing the proposed area on <br />aquatic habitat are minimal and will have no impact on regional aquatic wildlife. <br />Migratory Birds <br />The proposed action would have a localized and short -term adverse impact on some <br />migratory birds. The proposed action could result in the take of some bird species if <br />surface mining was conducted during the nesting season of mid -May to mid -July. <br />Vegetation would be lost to surface mining, destroying associated nests. Federal and <br />state regulations that include re- contouring, topsoiling, and vegetation establishment will <br />be followed to replace lost plant communities. Post - mining land use will be rangeland <br />including livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. It is likely that many migratory birds <br />would most likely return after rehabilitation. Migratory bird habitat loss on the proposed <br />lease area would be partially offset with the rehabilitation of the existing ColoWyo mine. <br />4.3.8 Rangeland Management <br />Plant communities within the proposed lease area will be removed as a consequence of <br />surface. mining. The proposed action would have a short-term, localized adverse affect on <br />rangelands. This means a loss of forage for livestock grazing, and vegetation structure <br />and forage for wildlife habitat. Federal and state mining regulations require that surface <br />coal mines must be completely rehabilitated, including replacement of soil approximating <br />the original terrain and establishment of native vegetation. After mining ceases, mined <br />lands would be restored to native range condition to support livestock grazing and <br />wildlife habitat. Rangeland vegetation will be restored with the rehabilitation of the <br />existing ColoWyo coal mine. <br />4.3.9 Threatened, Endangered, and Sensitive Species <br />The approval and issuance of a federal coal lease as defined in the proposed action would <br />not adversely affect bald eagles. However, environmental impacts from any surface <br />mining activity authorized under that lease may affect this species. <br />Surface mining the Collom tract would be unlikely to have any direct impacts to bald <br />eagles. Surface mining of approximately 1,188 acres of big game winter habitat would <br />have minimal impacts to the carrying capacity of winter range due to the large amount of <br />habitat available to big game species in this area. However, surface mining activities <br />would displace big game species and may impact bald eagle's ability to feed on carrion <br />R• PROJECTS Colow ■ii.o188 E:\ Final BIM, -EA Callon, 05_01 jR <br />51 <br />