GENERAL32961

• Permit No: M1999002
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 8/18/1998
• Doc Name: COMMERCIAL MINE PLAN SUBMITTED TO BLM SECTION 7
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• In 1998, in consultation with the BLM, American Soda designed a threatened and
endangered plant survey of the majority of the Piceance Site not previously
surveyed, as well as some adjacent properties, an area of approximately 2,820 acres
(Steigers 1998, BLM 1998e). The 1995, 1996, and 1998 Piceance Site threatened and
endangered plant survey study areas are shown in Figure 7-22. The survey provided
100 percent coverage of the survey area, but areas covered by the previous surveys
were not reevaluated in 1998. The threatened and endangered plant survey was
conducted during May and June 1998. All populations of threatened and
endangered plants were flagged in the field and their locations depicted on maps.
The results of the 1998 threatened and endangered plant survey will be provided to
the BLM upon completion.
The 1995 threatened and endangered plant survey found one small colony of
Dudley Bluffs twinpod on the north side of Horse Draw in the northwest quarter of
Section 29 (Young and Young 1995). Two additional populations of this species were
located in the same quarter section during the 1996 survey (Young and Young 1996).
The locations of the three populations of Dudley Bluffs twinpod are shown in
Figure 7-23. As indicated on the map, all the populations are located on the
Thirteenmile Creek Tongue of the Green River Formation on the upper slopes of
ephemeral drainages. They are located near the southern boundary of the Piceance
Site.
• A single population of Dudley Buffs bladderpod has been reported within the
Piceance Site along the line between Sections 17 and 20 (Young and Young 1996).
No populations of this species were found during the 1995 or 1996 threatened and
endangered plant surveys, nor were any other threatened or endangered plant
species identified. Information on the distribution of threatened and endangered
plants within the Piceance Site will be updated based on the results of the 1998
threatened and endangered plant survey.
The 1998 threatened and endangered plant survey also included the portion of the
pipeline corridor from where it exits the Piceance Site to the Greasewood
Compressor Station. The pipeline corridor portion of the threatened and
endangered plant survey is shown in Figure 7-24. The area surveyed was 200 feet on
either side of the proposed pipeline centerline, for a total area of approximately 300
acres. The results of the pipeline corridor portion of the threatened and endangered
plant survey will also be provided to the BLM upon completion.

The BLM has not required that threatened and endangered plant surveys of the
pipeline corridor between the Greasewood Compressor Station and the Parachute
Site be performed for the commercial mine plan (Steigers 1998, BLM 1998e).
Furthermore, the preferred Parachute Site is an existing inactive industrial site,
much of which is paved or otherwise highly disturbed, and it will not require a
threatened and endangered plant survey (Steigers 1998, BLM 1998e).
•
American Suda, L.L.P. '7_42
Commeraal Mine Plan
August I8, 1'NB