2020-08-20_REVISION - C2009087 (41)

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Three special bird species are known to occur in the permit area; bald eagle, Columbian sharp- tailed grouse, and greater sandhill crane. The bald eagle is listed as state threatened. Columbian sharp-tailed grouse is a state species of special concern, and known to use the permit area. The permit area encompasses nine lek sites, none of which are located in the PSCM surface disturbance area. Short-term habitat loss could occur, but limited to areas of surface facilities. Appropriate reclamation would likely restore this habitat, and the species is known to use reclaimed mining areas. The greater sandhill crane is a state species of special concern and is known to nest in the permit area. Nest sites were not located near surface disturbance areas and loss of habitat is not expected. The following special status species have potential to occur in the permit area based on habitat requirements but do not have known occurrences: midget faded rattlesnake, northern leopard frog, American peregrine falcon, ferruginous hawk, greater sage grouse, white-faced ibis, and northern pocket gopher. Further habitat details are listed in Table 2.04.11-T6. No federal threatened or endangered species were documented during the 2008 baseline surveys. The USFWS has federally listed the following species as occurring within Routt County: the Canadian lynx, the Colorado squawfish, razorback sucker, bonytail chub, and humpback chub. There is federally designated critical habitat along the Yampa River for these four species of fish. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans The PSCM has been in temporary cessation since January of 2017. Coal has been mined from the Wadge coal seam using underground room and pillar methods. Pillars will not be removed. Depending on favorable economics, a full-scale longwall miner would be approved in future revisions. Operations during the first five-year permit term of the PSCM involved construction of the portal face-up area, construction of surface facilities, and the development of mains, submains, and four sections of entries. Much of the portal face-up area and support structures were constructed in or on backfilled spoil reclaimed under the Seneca II permit. Topsoil has been salvaged and stockpiled onsite. Surface facilities include a variety of buildings, roads, and other structures for supporting an underground mine operation. Surface drainage passes through ditches and sediment control ponds before discharging to Little Grassy and Grassy Creeks. Mine water is pumped from sumps in the portal area and discharged to pond 002. This water would be used as dust control during active operation. Once the mine restarts operations, continuous miners will develop the workings, and conveyor belts will transport coal and development waste rock to the surface. From the portal area, conveyors on the surface will transport the coal and waste rock to a handling/stockpile area where the material will be loaded into haul trucks. Coal will be transported to either off-site customers or to the Foidel Creek Mine (C1982056) for beneficiation. Surface runoff from all disturbed areas will be channeled to sediment control ponds, with the exception of the runoff from small warehouse/shop area where alternative sediment control measures will be employed. Under approved Technical Revision TR09, the hydrologic monitoring schedule has been reduced to provide the basic ongoing information required by the DRMS and WQCD. Once the mine 8