GENERAL44496 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

If areas are determined by CDOLI [o be mule deer and elk crucial winter • range, coal related facilities and surface disturbances, except subsidence, will be authorized in the review area only if no practical alternatives exist. The BL`f and USFS will coordinate with the CDOG to determine the type and extent of allowable variances. Coal exploration, facility construction, and major scheduled maintenance will not be authorized within crucial winter ranges from December 1 to April 30. All unavoidable surface disturbances within these ranges, during these times, will require approval of the Authorized Officer. A potential Alluvial Valley Floor on the proposed lease tract is the Quaternary Alluvium associated with the North Fork of the Gunnison River. This area has already been found to be unsuitable for coal extraction under Criteria Number 16 - "Federal Lands in Special Floodplains". However, a concern remains that mining associated activities on other parts of the proposed lease could materially damage the quantity and/or quality of water that supplies Chis AVF, due to the potential hydraulic connection between the AVF and Mesaverde Formation. Due to insufficient data, a determination can not be made until a mine plan for the area has been submitted. At that time, the Regulatory Official will make a finding concerning possible material damage to the alluvial valley floor. As a result of the finding, some restrictions co the mining operations may be necessary. The following mitigation measures are the result of the Environmental Assessment: • Because the presence of Grand :fesa Penstemon has been documented in abundance at elevations above 7800 feet, plant survey and project evaluation and approval ,i11 be required prior to any surface disturbance except subsidence. To protect and preserve breeding and nesting habitat for the Loggerhead shrike and other neotropical birds, disturbances in sagebrush, Cambel oak stands, and riparian areas will be limited to the extent practical. , The lessee, before issuance of the mine permit, will conduct and provide to BLM an inventory of all existing state adjudicated water rights in and adjacent to the lease tract which may be impacted by subsequent mining activities. Ac a minimum, this inventory will include: the vacer right holder, location, source, amount of decree, beneficial use, historical flow, and the appropriation and adjudication daces. The lessee shall replace in a manner consistent with state law the water supply of any owner of a vested water right which is proximately injured as a result of the mining activities. Other mitigation measures on :rational Forest System Lands will consist of applicable stipulations sec forth in Appendix 2. In addition to the • following Conditions of Approval (COA), there will be additional COA's, 25