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2.04.1 1 FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCE INFORMATION <br />Any surface mining project, such as the one proposed by Coors Energy Company, will <br />have some unavoidable effect on any wildlife which occurs in the area. (Since no water <br />impoundments are on the Keenesburg boundary, comments are directed strictly to <br />terrestrial fauna.) <br />1, General On-Site Impacts <br />The mining activity will remove the resident populations of vegetation and community <br />mammals. Little disturbance of the general topographic features will occur. Perhaps <br />as many as 50 species of mammals. birds, and reptiles will be affected by mining on the <br />site. Many of the ground and burrowing animals will be killed. Larger mammals and <br />birds will be displaced from home territories as the mine face advances across the site. <br />These impacts are unavoidable, but with reclamation and proper management most of <br />the communities can be replaced, and impact can be minimized. It will be impossible <br />to reconstruct the ecological plant and animal communities that were present prior to <br />mining to the exact or nearly exact state before mining. Communities will be able to <br />re-establish in the area after reclamation. <br />2. General Off-Site Impacts <br />Developments off-site, such as housing developments, new roads into the area, <br />increased people living and going through the site, will all affect the wildlife in the <br />area. <br />Most disruption of the wildlife community would be from actual mining operations. <br />Mining causes displacement of animals by human presence, human activity, dust and <br />air quality changes, and noise. Many animals and birds will relocate in neighboring <br />communities if food and habitat are available. This would promote competition for <br />food and territory which would start other reactions and increase mortalities until a <br />stabilization occurs. Some mammals, birds and reptiles could co-exist during the <br />mining operation and move to different areas of the site as the face advances. As <br />reclamation takes place some animals could move readily back into the area, re- <br />establishing tercitory and habitat. <br />Most of the conditions described above have already occurred in the azea with the <br />renewed interest of oil and gas exploration by major companies. The construction of <br />pipelines, derrick platform grading, and general traffic have caused major disruption in <br />the general area with no major consequence to the wildlife. <br />3. Expected Impacts on Vertebrate Groups <br />Rodents and some reptiles will either be killed or displaced. Most species, such as <br />kangaroo mice and field mice, abundant and widely distributed, have high reproductive <br />92 <br />