2017-02-15_REVISION - C1996083 (2)

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A-11 Common Name/ Scientific Name USFS Status BLM Status CPW Status1 Potential Occurrence in the Analysis Area 2 Habitat3 Milk snake Lampropeltis trianguium taylori N/A Sensitive N/A Possible Grasslands, sandhills, canyons, open woodlands ponderosa, pinyon-juniper; known along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Midget faded rattlesnake Crotalus viridis concolor N/A Sensitive SC Possible Most terrestrial habitats in west-central Colorado including grasslands, shrublands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, coniferous forests. 1 Colorado Parks and Wildlife Status Codes: SC = State Special Concern (not a statutory category) (CPW, 2013a). 2 Potential Occurrence based on habitat associations and known distributions: Unlikely: May occur in Delta County and marginally suitable habitat present in the project area. Likely: Occurs in Delta County, suitable habitat is present, likely to be present in the project area. Possible: Occurs in Delta County, suitable habitat is present, but not observed in the project area. Present: Observed in the project area and/or occupied habitat includes the project area. 3 Sources: CNHP, 2013; CPW, 2012a; Weber and Wittmann, 1987; Andrews and Righter, 1992; Hammerson, 1986; Woodling, 1985; Fitzgerald et al., 1994. No lands within the review area are designated as Critical Habitat, proposed to be designated as Critical Habitat, or determined to be essential habitat for any federally-listed Threatened or Endangered plant or animal species, or species proposed for listing. However, Critical Habitat for the endangered Colorado River fish does exist off-site in the Colorado River drainage which potentially could be affected by water depletion from this action (USFWS, 1994). USFWS has concluded that any water depletion in the upper Colorado River Basin “may affect” these Endangered fish species and their Critical Habitat. Current plans for mining may include the lands under the West Fork of Terror Creek. Subsidence associated with the Proposed Action is expected to be minimal to negligible and would generally affect the area immediately overlying those areas that are mined. Therefore, no subsidence related disturbance to the flows in Terror Creek or to Threatened greenback cutthroat trout are predicted as a result of proposed mining on the LBA tract. Lands are suitable for coal leasing after applying the exceptions to the criteria. In order to protect the West Fork of Terror Creek and related habitat for the Threatened greenback cutthroat trout, the following lease stipulations would be required for the LBA tract: • State-of-the-art mining techniques (pillar and panel widths, rate of coal development and extraction, mine method, determining angle of draw, etc.) would be used to control subsidence. No mining-related surface disturbance (i.e., MDWs and roads – not including subsidence) would occur within 200 feet of greenback cutthroat trout occupied habitat, as measured from the normal high water mark, without a written finding from the Authorized Officer. These techniques would provide for maximum coal removal while protecting the values associated with the threatened greenback cutthroat trout habitat. • Adequate sediment control devices, such as silt fences or straw wattles composed of native substances or other effective BMPs, would be placed down slope from the pads and access roads to prevent potential sedimentation effects to West Terror Creek.