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 confidence that many semi-arid areas such as the western U.S. will suffer a decrease in water resources due to climate change (IPCC 2007). Milly et al. (2005)project a 10 to 30 percent decrease in precipitation in mid-latitude western North America by the year 2050, based on an ensemble of 12 climate models. Recent studies have indicated that global warming has the potential to adversely affect river systems that support greenback cutthroat trout(Defenders of Wildlife 2002; Ficke et al. 2007). In general, threats from climate change could affect fish populations through reduction of precipitation, increase in fire, and increase in stream temperature. Higher temperatures in lentic systems (lakes) also could increase evaporation and result in lowered lake levels (Ficke et al. 2007). This threat is common to all fish considered in this impact analysis. Climatic variation associated with climate change may lead to reductions in quality of habitat for all fish species evaluated. The potential impacts from climate change that could affect these species in the AA include changes in snowpack, streamflow timing, and hydrograph evolution. Changes in the timing and magnitude of runoff include earlier runoff, warmer stream temperatures, and the spread of in-stream non-native species and diseases. Changes in streamflow intensity and timing may also affect riparian ecosystems. 6.2 Effects to Listed Species and Critical Habitats There are no direct impacts expected to any federally listed species as a result of the proposed King 11 Mine lease modification or associated with revision and renewal of the mine plan permit. There are indirect impacts to listed species associated with combustion of King 11 coal at GCC's Pueblo, Colorado and Tij eras, New Mexico cement plants. The following impact analysis for each affected species is based on the relatively small contributions of mercury to the AAs from combustion of King II Mine coal. Specifically, the release of 10 to 15 pounds per year of mercury from the GCC Pueblo plant, 25 pounds per year from the Tij eras plant, and less than 0.25 pound per year from the narrow-gauge railroads. 6.2.1 Rio Grande Silvery Minnow New Mexico has adopted only one fish tissue-based criterion (methylmercury)in its water quality standards. For other parameters, SWQB used the USGS Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST)Program (Schmitt 2004) screening levels for evaluation. USGS BEST mercury concentrations that affect fish health are 0.7-5.4 mg/kg wet weight. In 2008, the New Mexico Environment Department(NMED), Surface Water Quality Bureau (SWQB) concluded a study (LAMED 2008)to provide baseline condition and trends for key water quality parameters in the Middle Rio Grande (MRG) as part of a comprehensive water quality monitoring and assessment program to elucidate relationships between water-quality and declines in silvery minnow populations. The study compiled water chemistry data for sites within the study area collected between 2000 through 2008. July 2017 31