2014-07-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981035A ‎(5)‎

• Permit No: C1981035A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 7/3/2014
• Doc Name: Fish and Wildlife Information
• Section_Exhibit Name: KII Appendix 08
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

SWCA
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS
Sound Science. Creative Solutions.
To: Mr. Tom Bird
Durango Office
130 Rock Point Drive, Suite A
Durango, Colorado 81301
Tel [phone] Fax [phone]
www.swca.com
Technical Memorandum
GCC Energy, LLC
6473 County Road 120
Hesperus, Colorado 81326
From: Eilene Lyon, SWCA Environmental Consultants
Date: April 11, 2014
Re: Natural Resources Survey of Nine Proposed Drill Holes on State Land for the
King II Mine, La Plata County, Colorado / SWCA Project No. 28487
INTRODUCTION
GCC Energy, LLC (GCC), is proposing to conduct exploration core drilling for coal at nine locations on
state land managed by the Colorado State Land Trust within the State Permit Boundary for the existing
King II Mine. The overall project area is located approximately 9 km (5.5 miles) southwest of Hesperus,
Colorado, in La Plata County (Figure 1). All of the proposed drill holes would be accessed via existing
two -track roads. No ground - disturbing activity is planned or required for use of these existing roads. The
survey area around each drill hole is 91 x 91 m (300 x 300 feet [2.07 acres]) centered on each drill hole,
with the exception of the CO -14 -01 and CO -14 -07 holes, adjacent to land owned by the Ute Mountain
Ute Tribe At CO -14 -01 and CO- 14 -07, the survey area was thus shifted east to keep it within state land
boundaries. The surveys are required by the Colorado Department of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety
(CODRMS) in order for GCC to obtain approval for the exploration program. The drill holes are located
in the U.S. Geological Survey Durango West, Colorado 7.5- minute quadrangle map.
GCC selected SWCA Environmental Consultants (SWCA) to conduct natural resource surveys of the drill
hole locations to demonstrate compliance with the requirements of the CODRMS. The objectives of this
technical memorandum are to 1) describe vegetation communities in the project areas, 2) evaluate habitat
suitability for both federal and state listed special status species, and 3) conduct an assessment for
potential jurisdictional water of the U.S. in the proposed project areas to determine if Clean Water Act
Section 404/401 permit compliance is necessary.
King II Appendix 8(5)