2014-10-21_PERMIT FILE - C2010088

• Permit No: C2010088
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 10/21/2014
• Doc Name: Environmental Resources
• Section_Exhibit Name: Section 2.04
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

2.04.11 Fish and Wildlife Resources Information
(1) A Baseline Wildlife report is presented in Volume 1, Exhibit 10. The report surveyed
the area to be affected by the loadout and the adjacent area.
(2) The Applicant met with the DOW and DRMS on April 15, 2010 to determine what
fish and wildlife resources information will be required. Per DOW request, the
applicant determined approximately 11 acres of Fish and Wildlife habitat will be
disturbed by Loadout operations, and those 11 acres will be reclaimed to Fish and
Wildlife habitat. Fish and Wildlife land use types are delineated on Map -07.
(3) OSM in conjunction with BLM prepared a Biological Assessment (BA) for submittal to
the United States Fish and Wildlife Service ( USFWS) to evaluate effects of the
construction of the Loadout Facilities in order to determine effects on federally listed
endangered, threatened and species proposed for listing. The USFWS then
prepared a Biological Opinion (BO) based upon information provided in the BA. The
BA, the BO and other related correspondence have been incorporated into Exhibit
19.
(4) The potential for impacts to rare and endangered animal species are discussed in
the above referenced Wildlife Report, and the Biological Opinion prepared by the
USFWS in November 2011 is included in Exhibit 19. The identified rare and
endangered animal species within the permit and adjacent area are the River Otter
(State threatened) and four endangered fish. The four endangered fish are the
Colorado Pikeminnow, Bonytail Chub, Humpback Chub and the Razorback Sucker.
In 1994 the USFWS designated critical habitat in the Colorado River and its 100 -year
floodplain from the Colorado River Bridge at exit 90, near Rifle, downstream to Lake Powell.
Designation of critical habitats for all listed fish in the Colorado River Basin was based on the
presence of primary constituent elements (PCE's) - water, physical, and biological features -
that are needed for species' continued survival.
Construction of the Loadout could directly or indirectly affect the four endangered fish species
through one or more of the following pathways:
1. Water depletions from the Colorado river system.
2. Decreased water quality in Reed Wash due to discharge from sediment ponds at the
Loadout facility.
3. Coal Spills entering Reed Wash from coal cars and fugitive coal dust from stockpiles and
coal cars at the Loadout facility.
4. Construction of the rail bed and bride in Reed Wash, 100 -year floodplain, and critical
habitat.
5. Acoustic impact from driving piles in Reed Wash streambanks and floodplain.
6. Hazardous materials (diesel fuel, lubricants, creosote, de -icing chemicals, and herbicides)
affecting Reed Wash, 100 -year floodplain and critical habitat.
The BA was prepared to evaluate effects of the Proposed Action - construction and operation
of the McClane Canyon Mine Expansion and Federal Lease Modification and construction
and operation of the Fruita Loadout Facility - in sufficient detail to determine effects on
Permit Application 2.04-36 01/12