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West Elk Mine <br /> <br />2.05-102 Rev. 06/05- PR10, 03/06- PR10, 05/06- PR10, 11/060- TR107, 04/07- TR108, 09/07- PR12, 02/08- PR12; 11/10- MR372; 10/20- MR-452; <br /> 12/20- TR149; 12/21- TR150, 1/24-TR152, 2/25-MR486 <br />Open Coal Stockpiles <br />The stockpiles are compacted and may be sprayed as necessary to eliminate particulate emissions <br />created during coal handling. <br />Fish and Wildlife Plan - 2.05.6(2) <br />The baseline wildlife information collected on the property indicates that the mine facilities area is <br />not of prime significance to major wildlife species. The affected area is not known to be critical <br />habitat for big game, except small areas of critical winter range for elk and mule deer along the North <br />Fork and Minnesota Creek. The North Fork corridor also provides winter concentration areas for <br />federally listed (threatened) bald eagles, but no roost sites or other critical habitat features for bald <br />eagles exist in the permit area. Fragmentary and relatively low-quality habitat for federally listed <br />(threatened) Canada lynx is identified in the permit area, but lynx are not known to occur there and at <br />best an occurrence or use would be peripheral to occupied range to the south. No confirmed host <br />plants for the Silverspot Butterfly have been identified in the permit area to date. No identified critical <br />habitat features exist in the permit area for other raptors, migratory birds, or other threatened or <br />endangered species. Cliffs in the permit area are not known to provide important nesting or roosting <br />habitat for raptors or other cliff-dependent wildlife. Water depletions to the Colorado River Basin, <br />if they occur, could adversely affect populations and downstream critical habitat for four species of <br />federally listed (endangered) Colorado River fish. Water depletions of less than 100 acre-feet per <br />year are considered adequately mitigated by USFWS. <br />Using the best technology currently available and applying it to the extent reasonably feasible, <br />disturbances and adverse impacts of mining and related operations on fish, wildlife, and related <br />environmental impacts are minimized. Where practicable, enhancement of such resources is <br />achieved. In so doing, MCC will report to the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) the presence <br />of any threatened or endangered animal or plant species listed or proposed to be listed by the State or <br />Secretary of the Interior; any critical habitat of any threatened or endangered animal or plant species <br />listed or proposed to be listed by the State or Secretary of Interior; or any Bald or Golden Eagle, or <br />nest thereof, of which MCC becomes aware and which was not previously reported to the CDOW. <br />The electric power lines and other transmission facilities used for MCC’s underground coal mining <br />operation on the permit area will be designed and constructed to prevent electrocution hazards to large <br />birds. <br />In compliance with the USFWS's "Windy Gap Process" (a determination of effect of water depletions <br />in the Colorado River Basin on four endangered fish species), MCC has calculated the net depletion <br />of water from the North Fork as a result of West Elk Mine's current and projected operations, <br />including production from the Jumbo Mountain and Box Canyon lease tracts and South of Divide <br />area (Exhibit 67). This calculation is affected by any significant increase in production rates, but not <br />by an increase in the areal extent of coal to be mined. Should the rate of production or other factors <br />affecting the net depletion calculations change, the calculations would be revised. <br />MCC has taken the following factors into account to protect wildlife on the affected area: <br />1. Since the area is not a prime wildlife area, it is generally possible to operate and locate roads <br />so as to avoid and minimize impacts on fish and wildlife species.