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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />Colowyo employs fugitive dust control measures in all phases of the mining and reclamation activities. <br />The control measures currently used are set forth in detail in Section 2.05.6. <br />The operations at Colowyo are presently regulated under numerous emission permits issued by the <br />Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Air Pollution Control Division. Section 2.03. 10 <br />identifies the various permits under which Colowyo currently operates. The permits are set forth in <br />Exhibit 8 (Air Quality Information) of the original permit. <br />4.18 PROTECTION OF FISH, WILDLIFE, AND RELATED VALUES <br />Current and historical mitigation efforts, protection efforts, and habitat improvement plans are discussed <br />in Colowyo's existing permit and Section 2.05.4. Most of these efforts have been targeted at greater sage - <br />grouse, mule deer, elk, and raptors. <br />As discussed in Section 2.04.11(4), it is unlikely that any threatened or endangered species occur in the <br />Collom permit expansion area proposed disturbance. Recently the federal status of the greater sage - <br />grouse has changed to "Candidate for Listing." No designated critical habitat for any species is known to <br />exist in the permit expansion area. Golden eagles are known to nest in the permit expansion area, but the <br />nests are located outside the area to be mined. No bald eagles are known to nest in or near the permit <br />expansion area. Golden eagle nests and nests used by other raptor species are described in Section <br />2.04.11. There were eight nests used by raptor species other than golden eagles that were located within <br />the permit expansion area. Two of these nests have recently been active (in 2006 or 2007), and were used <br />by the long-eared owl and Cooper's hawk. <br />As described in Section 2.04.11(1-3), two greater sage -grouse and two Columbian sharp -tailed grouse lek <br />sites would be indirectly impacted by mining disturbances. Based on the survey information captured and <br />discussed previously in this submittal, the impact to the overall grouse populations in the area can <br />reasonably be described as minor. Habitat mitigation measures for sage -grouse populations displaced <br />during mining are discussed in Section 2.04.11(4), 2.05.4, 2.05.6(2). Map 46 has been included in this <br />submittal to identify the locations of these high value habitat locations to demonstrate Colowyo has made <br />efforts to avoid them where practical. The locations of possible raptor nesting sites within the proposed <br />Collom expansion area disturbance boundary have also been included on the map. Based on the language <br />provided within the Environmental Assessment for securing the Collom Lease Tract COC -68590, <br />Coloywo will relocate these structures to a nearby area not targeted for disturbance. Based on the survey <br />work previously referenced in this submittal, the sites targeted for direct impact by mining are not being <br />heavily utilized by raptors at this time. This Map also identifies the proposed location of habitat <br />enhancement "stockponds" that will facilitate additional opportunities for all wildlife species. <br />Section 4.18 of Colowyo's existing permit discusses electric power line and transmission facility <br />construction guidelines for retrofitting of existing power poles to protect raptors. Colowyo has <br />implemented these raptor protection measures in the Colowyo existing permit area and will also <br />implement them in the Collom permit expansion area. Because many raptor species are predators of the <br />Greater Sage -grouse and Colombian shap-tailed grouse, specific restorative and enhancement activities <br />are purposefully not being pursued beyond the protective measures described above with respect to <br />electrical structures. Enhancement of raptor habitat in the Collom expansion area would likely lead to a <br />lower probability of successful resumption of grouse activity post -mining. <br />As described in Sectiofi 2.05.6(2) and Colowyo's existing permit document, all disturbed acreage, <br />including roads, have been kept to a minimum by proper planning to reduce impacts to all environmental <br />resources, including impacts on wildlife. <br />Collom — Rule 4, Page 50 Revision Date: 9/28/11 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />