2022-11-07_REVISION - C1981041 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1981041
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 11/7/2022
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance
• From: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: RN8
• Email Name: CCW
• Email Name: THM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Please see Section B.X of the Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for PR-
4 dated February 3, 2009 for specific details and findings applicable to approval of
the alternative postmining land use at the Unit Train Loadout.
PR-6 was approved November 18, 2016. PR-6 approved changing the post mining
land use at the Roadside North Portal,Cameo Refuse Disposal Area 1,Cameo Borrow
Areas 1 & 2, and Ponds 6, 10, 11 and 13, from fish and wildlife and will be changed
to commercial/industrial. The landowner, the Town of Palisade, in cooperation with
Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife, will be constructing a shooting range and
education facility on this and surrounding area. Construction of the facility began in
the spring of 2017.
XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values
Fish and Wildlife Resources Information is contained in Section 2.04.11 of Tab 11,
Volume 3, of the application. The Fish and Wildlife Plan is included within Section
2.05.6(2), Tab 16, Volume 5, of the application.
Portions of the permit area north of the Colorado River provide severe winter range
for a portion of the Roan Creek mule deer herd. The western third of the permit area
makes up a small part of the Little Bookcliffs Wild Horse Area. Neither the mule deer
nor the wild horse population will be impacted significantly by mining, due to the
limited extent of additional surface disturbance proposed. Final reclamation as
proposed will restore habitat and forage for these species. With the approval of SL-
10 and TR-70, this area has received Phase III bond release and has been removed
from the permit area boundary.
The canyon walls in the general vicinity of the operation provide potential nesting
habitat for raptors, and there is an active peregrine falcon nesting use area located on
the Wildlife Habitat Map (Exhibit 25). The area used by the peregrines for nesting is
along a cliff face in Coal Gulch, near the north end of Mount Lincoln. A portion of
the cliff face, which has been used in recent years, is within the permit area. The
existing and proposed surface facilities are located along the river and at the lower
end of Coal Canyon. The facility areas are removed by at least 200 yards from
potential raptor nesting areas, and at least 500 yards from the cliff face where
peregrine nesting has been documented. The presence of Interstate 70 through
DeBeque Canyon may already have impacted raptors to some degree. No additional
impacts associated with mining activities are anticipated with respect to raptor
nesting.
Reclamation of the upper benches of the Coal Canyon refuse disposal areas reclaimed
in 2002 included distribution of surface rock as depicted on Figure 14-4, to enhance
habitat for prey species including cottontail rabbits, rodents, and reptiles. The
specified rock replacement plan is considered typical for other reclamation areas, to
the extent that suitable rock is available. Rocks were distributed on reclaimed surfaces
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