2020-10-27_PERMIT FILE - C1981035 (20)

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Biological Assessment Federal Coal Lease Modification(COC-62920)and Federal Mine Permit(CO-0106A)Revision and Renewal Juan River Basin. A complete discussion of the baseline water quality conditions that exist in the San Juan River are detailed in the FCPP/NMEP BO (USFWS 2015) and incorporated in this BA by reference. Middle Rio Grande In 2016, the Middle Rio Grande Endangered Species Act Collaborative Program (MRGESACP) contracted with the New Mexico Environment Department Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB)to conduct water-quality monitoring and assessment to determine if poor water quality is contributing to the decline of Rio Grande silvery minnow populations in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG). SWQB conducted quarterly sampling of water and sediment, toxicity tests, and annual fish tissue collection and analysis at ten stations in the MRG selected by the MRGESACP. The survey extended from Bosque del Apache (downstream of San Antonio), north to the Angostura Diversion (upstream of Bernalillo), covering approximately 180 miles of river. In addition to the sampling conducted, SWQB compiled water chemistry data for sites on the MRG within the study area from other sources and earlier SWQB studies conducted from 2000 through 2008. SWQB assessed the data against water quality standards criteria contained within the State of New Mexico Standards for Interstate and Intrastate Surface Waters (20.6.4 New Mexico Administrative Code). Analysis of the data indicated dissolved oxygen levels were below the water quality criteria in the"Rio Grande (non-pueblo Alameda Bridge to Angostura Div)" and "Rio Grande (Isleta Pueblo to Alameda Bridge), aluminum concentrations were above the chronic aquatic life criteria in several locations, and water quality criteria for bacteria(E. coli) were exceeded in most of the area. A 2005 microbial tracking study indicated the bacteria are primarily from dogs and wildlife. Sediment chemistry, fish tissue contaminant concentrations, and sediment toxicity data were summarized to provide additional information on chemical pollutants in the MRG that may affect the Rio Grande silvery minnow. In general, the results of the extensive water, sediment, and fish tissue analyses performed for this study identified few water quality issues—notably elevated E coli; one sample with an ammonia concentration of 9.12 milligrams per liter(mg/L), five times the acute criteria; low dissolved oxygen during brief periods of time; and some samples elevated in metals such as aluminum, copper, and chromium. New Mexico has adopted only one fish tissue-based criterion (methylmercury)in its water quality standards. The Rio Grande silvery minnow's average adult body burden of mercury is about 0.05 microgram per gram (µg/g)wet weight mercury (Lusk et al. 2012). The concentration of mercury in all but a few small, often ephemeral, streams in New Mexico is minute, averaging less than 2.5 nanograms per liter(ng/L) (NMED 2001). At this level, there is virtually no threat to humans or wildlife from direct contact with, ingestion of, most of the state's July 2017 14