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iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii 999 1075 f United States Department of the Interior vwoEm.'~ OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING Reclamation and Enforcement ~~ ~~ BROOKS TOWERS ~ ~ 1020 15TH STREET DENVER,COLOAADO 80202 In Reply Reler To: 4433 TSR-20 May 11, 1987 T0: FR014: SUBJE'.:T Robert Ruesink, Field Supervisor Endangered Species, U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Salt Lake City, Utah Robert H. Schueneman, Chief ~' _ C Biological Sciences Branch ~.~ ~4, j Biological Assessment Amendment - Mt. Gunnison Mine, GuMison Cowlty, Colorado Olt August 20, 1985, your office issued a biological opinion on our agency's original biological assessment for the Mt. Gunnison mine. In that biological opinion (SE/SLC: 6-5-85-0023), you required the project sponsor, (Vest Elk Coal Company (WECC), to contribute to Conservation ,deasures to offset impacts to endangered fishes. This cuntribution was made by IVECC, and the proposed action was approved. At this time, the Office of Surface ;4ining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSI~L4E) is considering a permit renewal action to allow WECC to continue its underground mining operation. The permit renewal would result in no environmental impacts not already considered in our 1985 biological assessment. The estimated water depletion addressed in 1985 is still accurate. In fact, monitoring data collected since 1985 indicate that water use at the mine has been well below the predicted amount. 'Cerrestrial species, such as the bald eagle, would not be affected by the permit renewal because there would be no additional surface disturbance. Existing surface facilities would be used to process and transport the coal. Therefore, OSMRE has concluded that the original 1985 biological assessment is still valid; and, the permit renewal would not affect species protected by the Endangered Species Act of 1973 as amended. IE you have any questions, please contact Don Henne at (FfS)564-2718.