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West Elk Mine <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 azea is not known to be critical <br />habitat for big game, raptors, eagles, migratory birds, any threatened or endangered species, or to <br />contain cliffs supporting raptors and/or azeas offering special shelter, protection, reproduction, <br />nursery or wintering azeas. <br />Using the best technology cunently available to the extent possible, disturbances and adverse <br />impacts of these operations on fish, wildlife, and related environmental impacts aze minimized. <br />Where practicable, enhancement of such resources is achieved. In so doing, Mountain Coal <br />Company (MCC) will report to the Division of Wildlife (DOW) the presence of any threatened or <br />endangered animal or plant species listed or proposed to be listed by the State or Secretary of the <br />Interior; any critical habitat of any threatened or endangered animal or plant species listed or <br />proposed to be listed by the State or Secretary of Interior; or any Bald or Golden Eagle, or nest <br />thereof, of which MCC becomes aware and which was not previously reported to the DOW. The <br />design and construction of the electric power lines and other transmission facilities used for its <br />underground coal mining operation on the permit azea will be designed and constructed to prevent <br />hazazds to lazge birds either by spacing of wires or by protectors. <br />In compliance with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's "Windy Gap Process" (a determination of <br />effect on the razorback sucker and other endangered species), MCC has calculated the net deplefion <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 pacts (Exhibit 67). This <br />calculation is affected by an increase in production amounts, but not an increase in the areal extent <br />of coal to be mined. Should the rate of production or other factors affecting the net depletion <br />change, the calculation would be amended. <br />MCC has taken the following factors into account to protect wildlife on the affected azea: <br />1) Since the area is not a prime wildlife azea, it is possible to operate and locate all roads so as to <br />avoid and minimize impacts on fish and wildlife species. <br />2) Since no major migration routes have been identified on the permit area, it is not necessary to <br />guide such wildlife species by the means of fencing so as to direct their movement under <br />roadways or other obstructions which might result from construction of the surface facilities. <br />3) There are no ponds containing toxic fomung materials; however, should such a facility be <br />constructed, the pond will be fenced to exclude wildlife. <br />4} Since no habitat of unusually high value for fish and wildlife have been identified, it will be <br />unnecessary to take mitigation measures in this regazd. <br />5) Aquatic communities existing in the North Fork will be protected by the use of 50 foot wide <br />buffer zones of undisturbed land along stream channels. <br />• <br />2.05-96 Revised/urz 1995 PR06 ~ } ~h~ <br />~ 1Q <br />