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<br /> <br /> <br /> 29 <br />of these species were present, and that suitable habitat was lacking in the immediate area. <br /> <br />For the NHN Mine, the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) requested that the <br />applicant prepare a detailed Burrowing Owl monitoring plan. This plan is found in <br />Section 2.05.6(2) of the permit. The owls can potentially occupy abandoned prairie dog <br />burrows. Four prairie dog towns were mapped in 2009, as shown on Map 2.04.11-1. <br />Mining-related disturbance near the towns will be controlled during the mating and <br />nesting season (March 15 thru July 31) unless it has been established that no owls are <br />present. <br /> <br />The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement’s Western Region (OSM) <br />conducted a section 7 biological assessment (BA) for NHN dated March 13, 2012. OSM <br />coordinated with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for federally listed species <br />within Montrose County, Colorado. Species considered were the: Mexican Spotted Owl, <br />Bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, Greenback Cutthroat trout, Humpback chub, <br />Razorback sucker, Clay-loving wild buckwheat, Colorado hookless Cactus, Black-footed <br />ferret, Canada lynx, Yellow-billed cuckoo, Gunnison’s prairie dog and North American <br />wolverine. The USFWS agreed with the OSM determination of effects in the March 13, <br />2012 BA with the following analysis for the Colorado River Basin fish. <br /> <br />NHN is located in the San Miguel River drainage basin, which in turn lies within the <br />Upper Colorado River basin. A water depletion analysis was performed for the proposed <br />NHN Mine (Appendix 2.04.11-2), and transmitted to OSM for use in preparing the March <br />13, 2012 BA that was forwarded to the USFWS. This was necessary to evaluate water <br />depletion from the mine for the Endangered Fish Species recovery program in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin that was initiated on January 22, 1988. A requirement in the <br />recovery program was that a depletion fee would be paid by water users to support the <br />fish recovery program. On June 4, 2010, the USFWS determined that the depletion fee <br />would no longer be required for depletions of 100 acre-feet or less. The estimated <br />average annual water depletion for NHN is 42.3 acre-feet per year with a maximum <br />amount in the range of 51.26 acre-feet per year. Therefore, the depletion fee for NHN is <br />waived and further consultation for the Endangered Fish Species is not necessary as <br />anticipated water depletions are less than 100 acre-feet. <br /> <br />The applicant has not proposed the use of persistent pesticides on the site, nor is fish and <br />wildlife habitat a planned post-mining land use. <br /> <br />XIV. Protection of Underground Mining <br /> <br />No active or abandoned underground coal mines are located within 500 feet of coal <br />mining activities at the New Horizon North Mine. <br /> <br />XV. Subsidence Control <br /> <br />New Horizon North Mine is a surface mine and the provisions of Rule 4.20 do not <br />appl y.