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C. Golden Eagles and Other Raptors <br />Several species of raptors were observed by contractor personnel (VTN, Colorado, Inc.) during <br />baseline data collection in 1974-1977; many were year-round residents (Section 2.04.11 of the <br />PAP). Golden eagle nests were sighted along Good Spring Creek within the permit area. Raptor <br />sightings are shown on Maps 15 and 15A of the PAP. Limited surveys have been conducted since <br />1977. <br />Locations of possible raptor nesting sites within the Collom area have also been included in the <br />maps discussed in this section. Potential raptor nest sites that could possibly be impacted by mine <br />related activities will be relocated to a nearby area not targeted for disturbance. <br />Electric power poles located within the permit area are constructed to minimize potential electrical <br />hazards to large raptors. Persistent pesticides are not be used on the mine site. <br />D. Specific Findings Required by Rule 4.18 <br />Wildlife habitat is a planned postmining land use. Colowyo has selected appropriate plant species <br />and distributions to benefit wildlife (Rule 4.18(5)(i)). <br />XVII. Protection of Underground Mining - Rule 4.19 <br />Colowyo will conduct no coal mining closer than 500 feet to any point of either an active or <br />abandoned underground mine. Underground coal mines have been operated in the past by entities <br />other than Colowyo, as discussed in Section 2.04.4 of the PAP, but their locations were on the <br />northern side of Streeter Draw, well over 500 feet from present Colowyo mining. The surface <br />mining activities of Colowyo have been designed so as not to endanger any present or future <br />operations of either surface or underground mining operations (Rules 4.19(1) and 4.22.4(1)). <br />XVIII. Subsidence Control - Rule 4.20 <br />The Permit was found to comply with Rule 4.20 as well as Rule 2.05.6(6). <br />Colowyo is mainly a surface coal mining operation. A small area was auger mined (see XXI <br />below). The potential for subsidence over the auger mining was not considered a significant <br />concern. The possibility of large scale pillar failure over an area sufficient to produce surface <br />effects was considered very low (CTL/Thompson, Inc., "Auger Mining Analysis," February 5, <br />1996). <br />A truck parking lot exists above a highwall mining area of the South Taylor Pit. Colowyo has <br />designed the highwall mining in this area to minimize the impacts to the lot. The plan includes <br />driving one highwall mining entry as deep as possible (under the lot), leaving the designed web <br />pillar, driving the next entry and stopping it short of the lot, leaving another web pillar, than starting <br />the process over again. Although there is no current requirement for monitoring of subsidence by <br />Revised Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance August 2018 <br />Permit Renewal No. 7 P a g e 153 <br />