2011-11-10_PERMIT FILE - C1984065A (2)

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J. E. Stover & Associates, Inc. September 9, 2011 Page 4 Physical and Ecological Setting Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine is an inactive coal mine undergoing reclamation, located approximately 2 miles east of the Town of Newcastle, Colorado, between the Alkali Creek and South Canyon Creek drainages just south of the Colorado River and County Road 335. The permit boundary encompasses lands within Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, and 16, Township 6 South, Range 91 West of the Wh Principle Meridian (N.M.P.M.) and within Sections 4 and 5, Township 6 South, Range 90 West of the Wh P.M., Garfield County, Colorado (see enclosed map). The mine site is situated at an average elevation of about 6,500 feet above mean sea level in the Colorado Plateau physiographic province. The Colorado Plateau in this region is characterized by open river valleys, mesas, deep canyons, and barrens in an and to semi -arid climate. The mine permit area is vegetated primarily with mixed montane shrublands, pinyon - juniper woodlands, and semi - desert or sagebrush shrublands. Areas reclaimed following surface disturbance support pasture grasses, annual grasses, annual and perennial forbs (including noxious weed occurrences), and sagebrush. No riparian vegetation is present. The land drains generally north, toward the Colorado River. A total of less than 50 acres was disturbed when the permit area was actively mined in the past. The disturbed area was located on benched lands above the Colorado River floodplain on the north side of the Grand Hogback. Surface facilities included water handling and clarification equipment, offices, shops, water and sewage treatment facilities, and a rail loadout. I viewed the area of surface disturbance near the road and the majority of the upper mine permit area from County Road 335 on September 7, 2011. The only infrastructure remaining at the site was an approximately 1 -acre sediment pond basin, associated ditches, a dirt access road, and a topsoil pile. No water was present in the sediment pond basin. The disturbed area appeared to have been reseeded with dryland grasses. Cattle were grazing on the property. Impact Evaluations The following is an impact evaluation for four endangered fish species whose downstream critical habitat is affected by water depletions in the Colorado River drainage (bonytail, humpback chub, razorback sucker, and Colorado pikeminnow). Other species listed in Table 1 (but not evaluated here) were eliminated based on lack of suitable habitat within the mine permit boundary or because their known ranges are documented to lie well outside the mine boundary or its immediate vicinity. Fishes The upper Colorado River Basin is home to 12 native fish species, four of which are listed as endangered: bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and razorback sucker ( USFWS 1991). Decline of the four endangered species is due at least in part to habitat destruction (diversion and impoundment of rivers) and competition and predation from introduced fish species. In 1994, the USFWS designated critical habitat for the four endangered species at Federal Register 56(206):54957- 54967, which in Colorado includes the 100 -year floodplain of the upper Colorado River from Rifle to Lake Powell, and the Gunnison River from Delta to Grand Junction. RARE EARTh SCIENCE