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diffuser. The applicant installed both of the sound mitigation <br />measures. The Hubbard Creek fan is no longer in service. <br />Dust - The active workings will be no closer than 1,200 feet to the <br />ventilation fan thus minimizing the likelihood of rock dust or coal <br />fines being exhausted from the mine. The mine ventilation fan will <br />have an up -blast deflector so any material exhausted from the fan <br />will be widely dispersed. MSHA regulations prohibit accumulations <br />of coal dust in the mine since it is an explosive hazard. Rock dust <br />is finely crushed limestone, an inert material. It is placed on the <br />coal ribs and roof with a wet duster. Bulk dust is placed onto the <br />mine floor. Airborne coal dust is significantly reduced or eliminated <br />by coating the coal surfaces with rock dust. Therefore, very little, if <br />any, coal dust will be exhausted from the ventilation fan. Rock <br />dusting operations do put crushed limestone into the air circuit. At <br />times rock dust may be exhausted from the fan. The up -blast <br />deflector will widely disperse any of the inert rock dust that is <br />exhausted from the ventilation fan. <br />Regarding mining the Spruce Stomp Lease, COC -75916, the Final <br />Environmental Assessment DOI-BLM-CO-S050-2013-0010 EA states the <br />following regarding threatened and endangered species. <br />Prolonged mining would result in negligible impacts to threatened, <br />endangered or special status species or habitat and population <br />dynamics. Dispersed residential development is expected to <br />continue in the area. This development could cause species <br />sensitive to human activity to seek habitat outside the area of <br />development. The increased presence of houses, other buildings, <br />fences, roads, and traffic would also alter the movement of the <br />species and increase losses due to human and other introduced <br />species contact. Residential or other development would also result <br />in minimal surface disturbance on habitats in the area. There would <br />be negligible cumulative impacts to identified threatened, <br />endangered or special status species or habitats from continued <br />mining and other development activities in the LBA area. <br />PR -14 2.05-100 03/14 <br />