Laserfiche WebLink
Third Park Federa(Coal Exploration License Environmental Assessment <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: There would be no new project-related disturbances <br />within or near surface drainages and associated, unmapped floodplains. <br />Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no effects to floodplains. <br />INVASIVE, NON-NATIVE SPECIES <br />Affected Environment: Invasive and non-native species that may occur in the Project Area <br />include bull thistle (Cirsium vulgare), hoary cress (Cardaria draba), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), <br />houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and others to be determined during field surveys. <br />Environmental Consequences/Mitigation: Under the Proposed Action, approximately 48,750 <br />feet of access routes distributed across 51 individual access routes would be required. These access routes <br />would not involve grading or surface preparation that could cause extensive surface disturbance and <br />expose areas to noxious weed infestation. All drill locations would be accessed by using existing two- <br />track trails or traveling overland. Where soils are disturbed and native vegetation is lost as a result of <br />overland travel or drilling, there is a potential for invasive and non-native plant species to establish in <br />these areas. Reclamation at each drill site would include scarifying (hand raking) and seeding using the <br />BLM/CDRMS-specified seed mixture and application rate (pounds seed/acre). Seeding would occur when <br />opportunities are greatest for establishment, including late summer, fall, or early spring, to improve <br />germination rate. <br />Noxious weed control is required for the Project along access routes and at drill sites, in accordance with <br />[he Colorado Noxious Weed Act. As a safeguard to avoid the introduction of noxious weeds, drill rigs and <br />vehicle(s) would be required to have all dirt and debris that could contain weed seeds removed; then they <br />would be thoroughly washed with a suitable power washer at an off-site location prior to entering the <br />project area. Also, if the drill rig or other vehicles are taken over areas infested with noxious weeds, each <br />vehicle would be cleaned with high-pressure water spray equipment before moving to another area to <br />reduce the likelihood of spreading noxious weed seeds. <br />Under the No Action Alternative, there would be no new effects to the curcent establishment and <br />occurrence of noxious or invasive weeds in the Project Area. <br />MIGRATORY BIRDS <br />Affected Environment: The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (916 U.S.C. 703-711) identifies <br />numerous bird species of the southwestern United States that are assigned a migratory status. The U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Birds of Conservation Concern (BCC) lists those species that are of <br />the highest priority for the Southern Rockies/Colorado Plateau Bird Conservation Region (USFWS 2002). <br />The purpose of the BCC list is to identify those species in greatest need of conservation action, outside of <br />those species already listed by the USFWS as threatened or endangered. Of the species on the list, the <br />golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), Lewis's woodpecker (Melanerpes Lewis), gray vireo (Vireo vicinior), <br />pinyon jay (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus), Virginia's warbler (Yermivora vrginiae), black-throated gray <br />warbler (Dendroica nigrescens), and sage sparrow (Amphispiza Belli) are known to nest in Montrose <br />County and within habitats that are present in the Project Area (Kingery 1998). <br />Western Fuels CEL Environmen(al Assessmen( I 1 <br />