2017-02-03_PERMIT FILE - C1980004 ‎(22)‎

• Permit No: C1980004
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 2/3/2017
• Section_Exhibit Name: Appendix P Water Depletion Estimates
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

APPENDIX P
McOane Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment
• Implementation. of the Fugitive Coal Dust Emission Control Plan -proposed for the
Loadout Facility will reduce the possibility of coal dust contaminants' affecting
Colorado pikeminnows in Reed Wash and downstream in the Colorado River.
• Construction .of -a deck beneath the rails on the proposed bridge across Reed Wash
and the 100 -year floodplain will minimize the possibility of hazardous -materials from
trains, from coal, and from creosote from affecting Colorado pikeminnows in Reed
Wash and downstream in the Coloeado River.
• Pile driving will not occur within the water. column. Although fish may hear noise
from driving piles, sound levels would- not result in injury because the shock wave
energy would dissipate through sediments.
• Standard stormwater and spill containment Best Management Practices for water
quality will avoid increased sedimentation or contaminant loading in East -Salt Creek,
Reed Wash, and the Colorado River.
• Potentially toxic herbicides will not be applied to control tamarisk or other invasive
species within the 100 -year floodplain of the Colorado River and riparian zone of
East Salt Creek.
The Project is likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnows because:
• Water withdrawal from the Colorado River and/or from aquifers connected to the
river by'the Proposed Action Would adversely affect Colorado pikeminnows.
Hoinreyer,'the amount of water depleted annually by the Proposed Action is less than
100 acre=feet and a contribution to the species' recovery would be waived.
Critical Habitat Effects. The Project may affect Colorado pikeminnow designated critical
habitat because: '
• Designated critical habitat for. Colorado pikeminnow is present within the Action Area
and the project would physically alter 0.124 acre of critical habitat within the.100-year
floodplain in Reed Wash.
The Project is. not likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnow critical habitat because:
• There are approximately 40.53 acres of critical habitat that have been mapped by
FEMA within the 100 -year floodplains of Reed Wash and Loma Drain, combined.
The project would physically alter 0.124 acre (railroad bed and rip -rap) within the
100 -year floodplain in Reed Wash, about 0.3 percent of the mapped total, which is
insignificant.
• Construction of the railroad bridge across critical habitat will not cause'avulsion of
the 100 -year floodplain or inundation beyond Reed Wash'. ' The railroad bpdge
surface would not be flooded by the 100 -year flood event.
• The bridge has been designed so that all support pilings will be outside of the Reed
Wash OHWM, minimizing effects to water and'physical PCEs:
• Effects to the water quality PCE in Reed Wash will 'be minimized by measures
described above for the. Loadout Facility: lining sediment ponds to prevent seepage
of water and, dissolved constituents into Reed Wash and mobilization of
contaminants in pond substrates, removal of water from sediment ponds and
disposal at a commercial facility rather than pumping and discharge into Reed Wash,
minimizing toxic compounds from entering Reed Vlfash through -the railroad bridge_,
control `of fugitive coal dust, and restricting water discharge with selenium
concentrations greater than the numeric standards for the waterbody.
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PR -02 10/12