2021-04-14_PERMIT FILE - C1996084 (8)

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'~(5 K- Rule 1: Pernutr • Curtently, Lorencito Creek is crossed twice by the existing road. These crossings curtently do not have culverts to prevent driving across the stream channel. However, the placement of fords over all the stream crossings within Lorencito Canyon would eliminate this disturbance. The elimination of this disturbance will further protect toad habitat. Thus protection oftoad habitat would minimize any potential impacts to this species as well as other amphibians that may occur within these azeas. LCC intends to, when possible, avoid disturbance to riparian and aquatic habitats. However, some disruptions of the hydrologic balance in the permit area will occur during mining. These disruptions may impact some of these habitats on a temporary basis. Mitigation for the fisheries resource (and associated aquatic habitats) within the analysis area will be conducted as part of the mine permit. These mitigation measures will focus on the flathead chub populations and are as follows: Sediment control procedures, as described in Section 2.05.3(4) shall be implemented. 100-foot setbacks for all riparian areas within perennial reaches of Lorencito Canyon shall be maintained, except for the existing road corridors, topsoil piles, and sedimentation ponds. These structures are located in Lorencito Canyon and are associated with planned contour mining in that area. Consequently, they will have a life of only two to three years. To protect water quality, they will be seeded, and berms or silt fences will be installed as necessary. • Affected riparian and aquatic habitats shall be restored to pre-mining condition according to the hydrologic mitigation plans (these plans are contained in 2.06.4(3)(4) -Section 5 Mitigation Plan). • The current stream crossings in Lorencito Canyon are directly in the stream channel. The project shall reduce impacts to the stream channel by installing culverts at these crossings. • Culverts at all stream crossings shall be designed to avoid restriction of fish passage. This shall include adequate sizing to prevent velocity barriers and installation of the culvert bottom below the channel bottom to prevent obstruction of channel gradient. Monitoring of the fisheries resource (particularly the flathead chub population) and other aquatic biota shall be conducted by using the water quality monitoring program to identify if aquatic biota are being affected by the project. Additionally, all discharges from the mine site will be permitted through the NPDES program and will be reported to the Water Pollution Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. This program will include toxicity testing of the discharged water and will serve to monitor effects of these waters on the aquatic biota. CJ ~~-a i 2.05-83a (revised 9/12/01)