APPCOR12495

• Permit No: C1992081
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 2/25/1993
• Doc Name: HAYDEN GULCH LOADOUT C-92-081 PAR BIOLOGICA ASSESSMENT
• From: DMG
• To: USFWS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COLviv-~9uv
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
1311 Sherman Si., Room ?1 5
Dem~er. CO 8n'03
Phone 13031 8G6-3367
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Keith L. Rose
Assistant Colorado State Supervisor
United States Fish and Wildlife Service
Western Colorado Sub-Office
529 25 1/2 Road, Suite B-113
Grand Junction, CO 81505-6199
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Governor
Michael B. Long
Division Director
RE: Hayden Gulch Loadovt (C-92-081)
Permit Application Review - Biological Assessment
Dear Mr. Rose:
In your letter of December 10, 1992 to Brian Dunfee of Peabody West, you
requested that the Office of Surface Mining or its designee provide a biological
assessment, and/or any other relevant information, useful in making a
determination of the probable impact of the HG Loadout on the status of possible
threatened and endangered species present in the area. The following is the
State of Colorado, office of Surface Mining's assessment of the possible impacts
of the HG Loadout on threatened and endangered species.
Background to Mining Activities at the HG Loadout:
Construction of the HG Loadout began in 1978 to serve the HG Mine, situated in
the Williams Fork Mountains, located approximately 10 miles to the southwest.
The HG Mine was operated by HG Coal Company, a subsidiary of the Grace Energy
Corporation, and given a Division of Mined Land Reclamation Permit by the State
of Colorado (~ C-80-004) on January 4, 1981. The last coal was shipped from the
loadout in 1986. Since that time, the loadout and associated railroad spur have
remained inactive and the mine site has been mostly reclaimed.
The permit area was used primarily for grazing prior to construction of the
loadout and railroad spur. A portion of the area, however, had been cleared and
planted to pasture.
On September 28, 1992 an asset purchase agreement was reached between the Grace
Energy Corporation and the Peabody Western Coal Company. Peabody Western Coal
Company, in the forn of HG Terminal, Incorporated (HGTI), applied for a
reclamation permit from the State of Colorado on December 15, 1992. This
application is under review. HGTI hopes to begin shipping coal from the HG
Loadout this summer after making limited alterations to the site (primarily
involving the construction of a small segment of haul road located primarily on
already affected lands, within the existing permit area).
Availability of Baseline Information on the Wildlife Resource:
The HG Coal Company initiated an inventory of the wildlife resource at the HG
Mine conducted by the 3R Corporation during the winter of 1976. Quantitative
field inventory techniques were undertaken for small mammals and birds. The rest
of the inventory was accomplished through direct observation and analysis of scat
and tracks. This inventory was limited to the vicinity of the mine itself and