2020-03-24_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (9)

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RULE 2 PERMITS facing slopes as well as the ridge tops and bottoms. Deer are typically not as adaptable to disturbances as elk and therefore will be more adversely impacted by this action. Actual acreage impact to mule deer in the disturbance boundary: -Winter concentration area: 1167.66 acres Actual acreage impact to mule deer in the permit boundary: -Migration corridor: 1861.68 acres -Winter Concentration area: 16170.37 2.04.11(4)Threatened and Endangered Wildlife Species This section addresses the potential for special status fish and wildlife species to occur within the Collom permit expansion area. Special status species include Federally Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate species, State Threatened and Endangered Species, and species designated as sensitive by the BLM Little Snake Field Office. The common name, scientific name, listing status, habitat and potential for occurrence in the Collom permit expansion area are presented in Table 2.04.11-19. The most recent USFWS Endangered Species list (July 2010) was reviewed for Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties. There were nine threatened, endangered, or candidate species that potentially occur in the Collom permit expansion area based on county occurrence. Federally endangered species include four fish species (bonytail chub, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, razorback sucker) and two mammals (black-footed ferret, gray wolf). Federally threatened species include one avian species (Mexican spotted owl) and one mammal (Canada lynx). The yellow-billed cuckoo and Greater Sage-Grouse have been identified as candidate species for federal listing. Due to lack of appropriate habitat, no federally threatened or endangered species are expected to be present within the Collom permit expansion area. There is also no federally designated critical habitat for threatened or endangered species present in the Collom permit expansion area. Table 2.04.11-19 and the paragraphs below provide supporting information. It is highly unlikely that any of the four endangered fish species would be present in the Collom permit expansion area. These species occur only in large river systems, such as the Colorado River. Only two small, perennial streams occur in or near the Collom permit expansion area. These four fish species are also listed as either state endangered or state threatened (Table 2.04.11-19). As described in Section 2.05.6(3)(b)(iii), Little Collom Gulch is ephemeral, and showed no evidence of surface flow during 18 months of baseline monitoring. Elimination of springs within Little Collom Gulch will therefore have no measurable effect on surface water quantity in Little Collom Gulch. There may be an effect on peak flows in the West Fork of Jubb Creek, due to the elimination of recharge to three springs adjacent to the Collom Pit, but this effect is not expected to be measurable or statistically significant. Once mining has been completed and the pit has been saturated,the contributions to surface water from springs originating from infiltration into the Collom Pit would return to normal. By comparing pre-mining surface flow conditions, the duration of mining activities in the area, the actual acreage for disturbance, utilization of "clear water" diversions to bypass progressive annual disturbance, utilization of small stockponds for livestock and wildlife enhancement purposes in reclamation areas, and an assumed net gain in post- mining runoff generation once the Collom expansion area is fully reclaimed, Colowyo estimates an additional annual water depletion of 19 ac-ft. Based on the narrative found in Section 2.05.6(3)(b)(iii), the impact to streams during the mining process is not expected to be measureable and Colowyo could proceed forward with the stance that the Collom expansion area will not cause additional depletion. However, Colowyo recognizes that the four post-mine stockponds (found on Map /11), although small (each < 2 ac-ft.), in addition to the Collom Sediment Ponds (4.6 ac-ft.), will impound water that Collom—Rule 2, Page 70 Revision Date: 12/20/19 Revision No.: TR-135