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TRI-STATE GENERATION AND TRANSMISSION ASSOCIATION, INC. <br />HEADQUARTERS: P.O. BOX 33695 DENVER, COLORADO 80233-0695 303-452-6111 <br />April 18, 2017 <br />Mr. Zach Trujillo <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining ando�VED <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 APR 2 5 2017 <br />RE: Colowyo Coal Company L.P.of Redam <br />oc►, <br />Permit No. C-1981-019 Divis ion <br />& Safety <br />Bald Eagle Nest Notification <br />Dear Mr. Trujillo: <br />Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association Inc. (Tri-State), is the parent <br />company to Axial Basin Coal Company, which is the general partner to Colowyo Coal Company <br />L.P. (Colowyo). Colowyo operates under the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety <br />(Division) Permit No. C 1981-019. <br />In accordance with Rule 4.18(3)(a)(iii), Tri-State on behalf of Colowyo is providing <br />written notification to the Division of a Bald Eagle nesting location directly off of Moffat County <br />Road 51 along Wilson Creek. The location of the nest is approximately 900 feet south of the <br />planned disturbance footprint for the Collom Haul Road crossing of Moffat County Road 51, and <br />approximately 60 feet west of Moffat County Road 51. The nest location is shown on Map 15B <br />Sheet 1 as an occupied Red-tailed Hawk nest (T4N, R93W, Section 21). <br />Tri-State personnel verbally notified the Division on April 18, 2017 at approximately <br />7:40 A.M. per a voicemail from Mr. Tony Tennyson. Tri-State notified the United States Fish <br />and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of the nesting location on April 14, 2017, and also had a follow <br />up conversation with the USFWS on April 17, 2017. <br />Per guidance provided by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and confirmed with <br />the USFWS on April 18, 2017, a %2 mile buffer zone of limited activity was established around <br />the entire nest location. Development of the Collom Haul Road within the t/2 mile buffer zone ill <br />not occur until fledging of the nest has occurred. <br />Tri-State has requested to be able to install the main raw water source on Wilson Creek <br />which is within the t/2 mile buffer zone. The USFWS has allowed the work to occur within the <br />buffer zone as it is not major ground disturbing activities, but required Colowyo to implement <br />the following mitigation measures: <br />• A biological monitor must be present to observe the nest when the pipe is laid on <br />the ground surface and when the pump is placed. <br />• Fusing of the HDPE pipe must occur outside of the line of sight of the Bald Eagle <br />nest, and the pipe drug into the final location within line of sight of the nest. <br />• An electric pump must be utilized instead of the planned diesel pump to minimize <br />noise. <br />• Once work is complete an email needs to be provided to the USFWS <br />documenting the activities that occurred, how far the activities occurred from the <br />nest, and the Bald Eagle's response to the activities. <br />AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY/AFFIRMATIVE ACTION EMPLOYER <br />A Touchstone Energy' Cooperative K11 1-�* <br />CRAIG STATION ESCALANTE STATION NUCLA STATION <br />P.O. BOX 1307 P.O. BOX 577 P.O. BOX 698 <br />CRAIG, CO 81626-1307 PREWITT, NM 87045 NUCLA, CO 81424-0698 <br />970-824-4411 505-972-5200 970-864-7316 <br />