2014-07-14_REVISION - C1981044

• Permit No: C1981044
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 7/14/2014
• Doc Name: Endangered Species Section 7 Determination of Effects
• From: OSM
• To: File
• Type & Sequence: RN6
• Email Name: JLE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

9
MEMORANDUM
DATE:
TO:
From:
RE:
United States Department of the Interior
July 8, 2014
File
OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING
Reclamation and Enforcement
Western Region Office
1999 Broadway, Suite 3320
Denver, CO 80202 -3050
RECEIVED
JUL 14 2014
aV WN OF RECLg1V
LAND SAF MA7
Erica Trent, Natural Resource Specialist w
COSM#0019
Endangered Species section 7 Determination of Effects for Williams Fork Mine
C -81 -044 RN -6, Moffat, Colorado
The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Western Region analyzed
the effects, of the BTU Empire Corporation's permit revision proposal, on threatened and
endangered (T &E) species, and their critical habitat. This analysis is to meet our requirements
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973, as amended (16 U.S.C. 1531 et seq.) and our Federal
regulations at 30 CFR 746.13 (c) and 816.97. Through a permit review coordination process
between the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (CODRMS) and OSM, OSM
has the lead on section 7 consultations regarding mining within the state of Colorado and;
therefore, has taken into consideration the applicable T &E species resource needs when
reviewing/evaluating the proposed permit revision ( #6), the current permit (C -81 -044), as well as
the wildlife surveys while developing this Biological Assessment (BA) and talking to the state
inspector of this mine.
Proposed Action
RN -06 proposes to renew Colorado State permit C -81 -044 for a period of five additional years. It
is anticipated that the mine will remain in temporary cessation for the renewed permit term.
Temporary cessation will result in no mining activities; therefore, no potential impacts to T &E
species; however any future mining activities at this site will require a new section 7
consultation.
Consultation History
In a memorandum dated October 25, 1983, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS)
concurred with OSMRE's "no effect" determination for the Colorado pikeminnow,
(Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha) due to no water depletion impacts.
In a letter dated Aril 27, 1984, the USFWS concurred with OSMRE's "no effect" determination
for the Colorado pikeminnow, (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha) due to no