Laserfiche WebLink
RULE 2 PERMITS <br />facing slopes as well as the ridge tops and bottoms. Deer are typically not as adaptable to disturbances as <br />elk and therefore will be more adversely impacted by this action. <br />Actual acreage impact to mule deer in the disturbance boundary: <br />-Winter concentration area: 1167.66 acres <br />Actual acreage impact to mule deer in the permit boundary: <br />-Migration corridor: 1861.68 acres <br />-Winter Concentration area: 16170.37 <br />2.04.11(4)Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species <br />This section addresses the potential for special status fish and wildlife species to occur within the Collom <br />permit expansion area. Special status species include Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate <br />species, State Threatened and Endangered Species, and species designated as sensitive by the BLM Little <br />Snake Field Office. The common name, scientific name, listing status, habitat and potential for <br />occurrence in the Collom permit expansion area are presented in Table 2.04.11-19. <br />The most recent USFWS Endangered Species list (July 2010) was reviewed for Moffat and Rio Blanco <br />Counties. There were nine threatened, endangered, or candidate species that potentially occur in the <br />Collom permit expansion area based on county occurrence. Federally endangered species include four <br />fish species (bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker) and two mammals <br />(black -footed ferret, gray wolf). Federally threatened species include one avian species (Mexican spotted <br />owl) and one mammal (Canada lynx). The yellow -billed cuckoo and Greater Sage -Grouse have been <br />identified as candidate species for federal listing. <br />Due to lack of appropriate habitat, no federally threatened or endangered species are expected to be <br />present within the Collom permit expansion area. There is also no federally designated critical habitat for <br />threatened or endangered species present in the Collom permit expansion area. Table 2.04.11-19 and the <br />paragraphs below provide supporting information. <br />It is highly unlikely that any of the four endangered fish species would be present in the Collom permit <br />expansion area. These species occur only in large river systems, such as the Colorado River. Only two <br />small, perennial streams occur in or near the Collom permit expansion area. These four fish species are <br />also listed as either state endangered or state threatened (Table 2.04.11-19). As described in Section <br />2.05.6(3)(bxiii), Little Collom Gulch is ephemeral, and showed no evidence of surface flow during 18 <br />months of baseline monitoring. Elimination of springs within Little Collom Gulch will therefore have no <br />measurable effect on surface water quantity in Little Collom Gulch. There may be an effect on peak <br />flows in the West Fork of Jubb Creek, due to the elimination of recharge to three springs adjacent to the <br />Collom Pit, but this effect is not expected to be measurable or statistically significant. Once mining has <br />been completed and the pit has been saturated, the contributions to surface water from springs originating <br />from infiltration into the Collom Pit would return to normal. By comparing pre -mining surface flow <br />conditions, the duration of mining activities in the area, the actual acreage proposed for disturbance, <br />utilization of "clear water" diversions to bypass progressive annual disturbance, utilization of small <br />stockponds for livestock and wildlife enhancement purposes in reclamation areas, and an assumed net <br />gain in post -mining runoff generation once the Collom expansion area is fully reclaimed, Colowyo <br />estimates an additional annual water depletion of 19 ac -ft. Based on the narrative found in Section <br />2.05.6(3)(b)(iii), the impact to streams during the mining process is not expected to be measureable and <br />Colowyo could proceed forward with the stance that the Collom expansion area will not cause additional <br />depletion. However, Colowyo recognizes that the four proposed post -mine stockponds (found on Map <br />46), although small (each < 2 ac -ft.), in addition to the Collom Sediment Ponds (4.6 ac -ft.), will impound <br />Collom — Rule 2, Page 68 Revision Date: 12/30/16 <br />Revision No.: TR -108 <br />