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

McClene Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment
confluence of Salt Creek with the Colorado River is approximately 8 miles upstream from Black
Rocks in Ruby Canyon.
4.3.4.3 Effects by the Proposed Action
Direct and Indirect Effects. Water depletions would adversely affect critical habitat for the
humpback chub. Waterborne selenium is suspected to affect humpback chubs similarly to
effects on Colorado pikeminnows, razorback suckers, and bonytalls (FWS, 20024) but studies
documenting toxicity have not been found. Nevertheless, all of the pathways that the Proposed
Action could contribute selenium to enter waterbodies, discussed above for Colorado
pikeminnow, are assumed to also affect humpback chubs recovery in the upper Colorado River
system.
Cumulative Effects. As discussed above for Colorado pikeminnow, no State, tribal, local, or
private actions are reasonably certain to occur within Reed Wash and the 100 -year tioodpiain.
Other potential cumulative effects associated with human population growth in Garfield and
Mesa counties are expected to generate cumulative effects to humpback chubs, as described
above for Colorado pikeminnows.
4.3.4.4 Conservation Measures
The same conservation measures that were proposed to avoid or minimize effects by the
Proposed Action to Colorado pikeminnows and critical habitat in Reed Wash and the 100 -year
floodplain would benefit conservation of humpback chubs.
4.3.4.5 Determination of Effects
Species Effects. The Project -may affect humpback chubs because:
• Humpback chubs are likely to occur within the Colorado River, downstream from the
Action Area.
The Project is not likely to adversely affect humpback chubs for the same reasons identified
for Colorado pikeminnows, above. Briefly, the reasons include 1) lining proposed sediment
ponds at the Mine and Loadout Facility to prevent seepage of water and dissolved constituents
and mobilization of contaminants"in pond substrates into East Salt Creek and Reed .Wash, 2)
preventing discharge of water with selenium concentrations exceeding numeric standards, 3)
removing water from sediment ponds at the Loadout Facility and disposal off-site, 4) controlling
fugitive coal dust at the Loadout Facility, 5) installing'a deck on the railroad bridge across Reed
Wash, 6) avoiding driving pilings in the water column, 7) utilizing BMPs 'to minimize
sedimentation and contaminant load in surface water,- and 8) avoiding application of herbicides
potentially toxic to fish near surface waters.
The Project is likely to adversely affect humpback chubs because:
• Water withdrawal from the Colorado River and/or from aquifers connected to the
river by the Proposed Action would adversely affect humpback chubs. However, 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 -humpback chub designated critical habitat
because:
• Designated critical habitat for humpback chubs is present within the Colorado River,
approximately 8 miles downstream from the confluence of Salt Creek with' the
Colorado River.
PR -02 10/12