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 2. Project Description GCC has filed an application to modify the existing Federal Coal Lease COC-62920 to incorporate four additional tracts adjacent to currently leased areas of the King II Mine to expand underground mining operations and extend the life of the mine into 2023. The proposed lease modification would add approximately 950.55 acres to the existing coal lease, which covers an area of 1,311.69 acres. The proposed lease modification areas are shown on Map A-2 in Appendix A. As part of the Proposed Action, OSMRE is considering GCC's mine permit renewal and permit revision to include mining the proposed additional lease acreage being considered by the BLM. This section summarizes the Proposed Action for which this BA is prepared to analyze the effects to federally listed species. The Proposed Action includes the proposed lease modification as well as the revision and renewal of the King II Mine permit(CO-0106A) and recommendation for the Assistant Secretary of the Interior, Land and Minerals Management(ASLM) to either approve, disapprove, or approve with conditions the mining plan modification. A more detailed description of the Proposed Action is found in Section 2.1 of the EA for which this BA is appended. 2.1 Coal Removal Coal would be removed from the lease modification areas in the same manner as current operations at the King II Mine, using existing surface facilities and the mine plan as approved by the Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety and in accordance with OSMRE permit renewal and revisions requirements. The type of mining utilized is the "room and pillar" method. The thickness of the coal seam ranges from 6 to 10 feet. The coal seam is mined using continuous mining machinery. After the coal is mined, it is brought to the surface via a conveyor into one of two stockpiles, where it is crushed and prepared for transport. Coal refuse (underground development waste)from the King II Mine is transported less than 1 mile away to an approved refuse facility located on private lands at the King I Mine. The BLM estimates the recoverable federal coal reserves included in the lease modification area to be approximately 4.66 million tons. The King II Mine now operates more than 2 miles of underground roadway with an interconnected grid work of nearly 6 miles of tunnels. GCC is not proposing to expand surface facilities or make modifications to current mining methods employed at the King II Mine because of the proposed lease modification. The mine plan revision would include minor periodic surface-disturbing activities associated with installation of groundwater monitoring wells, exploration core sampling, and stormwater management controls. July 2017 7