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4.11 Land Use <br />Land use information is found in Sections 2.04.3, 2.05.5, and 4.16 (Volume 1 for the East Pit, <br />West Pit, Section 16 Pit, Facilities Area and Gossard Loadout and Volume 12 for South Taylor) <br />and Map 17 of the PAP. Specific findings are described in Section B, Item XII of this document. <br />The land use of reclaimed lands is rangeland (4.16, PAP). Wildlife habitat is incidental to <br />reclaimed rangeland, as described below under Wildlife. Prior land uses within the permit area <br />were primarily rangeland, wildlife habitat, with some agriculture (not disturbed by the mining <br />activity). Land uses in adjacent area are primarily rangeland and wildlife habitat. There is some <br />dryland farming on level uplands, and small areas of irrigated pasture and hayland along stream <br />courses in the general area. <br />Rangeland on the permit area is characterized as good condition sagebrush and mountain shrub <br />range that, in the past, was variously grazed by either sheep or cattle during the spring, summer <br />or fall. The rangeland also supports substantial populations of mule deer, elk, sage grouse, <br />golden eagles and numerous other wildlife species at various times throughout the year. Post <br />mine land use will support wildlife and livestock utilization. <br />4.12 Wildlife <br />Measures to protect wildlife and related environmental values are presented in paragraph 4.18 of <br />the PAP. No threatened or endangered species have been identified in the permit area. No <br />critical habitat for any such species is known to exist. Herds of deer and elk are regularly seen <br />grazing on the reclaimed area, especially during the winter. Rodent and small game populations <br />have reestablished on reclaimed areas, and small birds and raptors are numerous on reclaimed <br />and adjacent undisturbed areas. <br />Except for the immediate vicinity of the pump station on the Wilson Reservoir, there is no fish <br />habitat or fish within the areas to be mined or reclaimed. <br />5.0 Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plans <br />5.1 Operations Plan <br />Mining Activity <br />Detailed information on the Mine Operations Plan is found in Section 2.05.3 (Volume 1 for the <br />East Pit, West Pit, Section 16 Pit, Facilities Area and Gossard Loadout and Volume 12 for South <br />Taylor) of the PAP. Performance standards associated with mining operations are found in <br />Section 4 (Volume 1 for the East Pit, West Pit, Section 16 Pit, Facilities Area and Gossard <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 2012 <br />Permit Renewal 06 Page 118 <br />