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Section B, Item XIV of this document. The land use of reclaimed lands is rangeland (4.16, PAP). <br />Wildlife habitat is incidental to reclaimed rangeland, as described below under Protection of Fish <br />and Wildlife (Section B. Item XVI of this document). Prior land uses within the permit area <br />were primarily rangeland, wildlife habitat, and some agriculture (not disturbed by the mining <br />activity). Land uses in adjacent areas are primarily rangeland and wildlife habitat. There is some <br />dryland farming on level uplands, as well as small areas of irrigated pasture and hay land along <br />stream courses in the general area. <br />Pre - mining land uses for areas included in the proposed Collom expansion area include <br />rangeland and fish and wildlife habitat. A small area of pastureland is located within the <br />proposed Collom expansion boundary, but is not proposed to be disturbed. Pre - mining land uses <br />in the proposed Collom area is described in Section 2.04.3, 2.05.5 and 4.16 (Volume 15) <br />delineations of land use types are shown on Map 17. Post - mining land use for the Collom <br />expansion area is proposed to be returned to rangeland and wildlife habiatat. <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 />Columbian sharp - tailed grouse, golden eagles and numerous other wildlife species at various <br />times throughout the year. Post mine land use will support wildlife and livestock utilization. <br />3.2.12 Wildlife <br />Measures to protect wildlife and related environmental values are presented in section 4.18 of the <br />PAP. Suitable habitats for the following threatened or endangered species have been identified in <br />the permit area: Colorado pikeminnow and Bonytail chub. Greater sage - grouse is a candidate <br />species for listing under the Endangered Species Act. Greater sage grouse range is found within <br />the Collom expansion area. CCC proposed mitigation strategies to minimize the project effects <br />on Greater sage - grouse. Should the Greater sage - grouse be listed as threatened or endangered in <br />the future, re- evaluation of impacts to this species may be necessary. <br />The USFWS service provided a biologic opinion to the OSM on October 30, 2012, Stating that <br />all four endangered fish species will be adversely affected due to anticipated water depletions. <br />The USFWS also believes that the Greater sage - grouse would be impacted. <br />The USFWS states that most, if not all, of the Collom Expansion area is within the Preliminary <br />Priority Habitat (PPH) for the Greater sage - grouse designated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife <br />(CPW). USFWS approves of the following measures proposed by CCC to reduce overall <br />impacts to grouse and migratory birds: <br />1) 212 acres reduction in the disturbance footprint <br />2) A focused effort to re- establish sagebrush on slopes less than 10 percent (post- mining <br />topography). <br />3) The conversion of 274 acres of wheat field to a conservation reserve program (CRP) <br />Colowyo Coal Mine C1981 -019 PR -03 28 April 10, 2013 <br />