2008-02-04_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A

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acres of open water in the Fish Creek channel and approximately 0.10 acres of riverine wet meadow and emergent marsh for a total wetland disturbance of approximately 0.39 acres. Wetland survey results aze presented in Exhibit 16B, NW Mains Ventilation Shaft -Waters of the U.S. Inventory and Wetland Delineation. NMD (Panels 17-Right through 25-Right, PR03-06, TR04-48, and PR06-07) No new surface facilities were contemplated in Pernut Revision PR03-06. As part of PR03-06, however, a section of Fish Creek and the associated Alluvial Valley Floor will be subsided and subsequently flooded. TCC conducted an Internet search to, detemune impacts to rare and endangered plant species. Previously, Mr, Terry Ireland of the Grand Junction Office of the USFWS was contacted to provide a listing of T & E species which could be present in Township SN, Range 86W, 6`" P.M. The results of the inquiry indicate that S~iranthes diluvialis (iJte Lady' Tresses) is the only plant found within the area that could be potentially impacted. \. The Ute Lady's Tresses occurs in habitats at an elevation of 6,500 feet or less. The disturbance associated with the subsidence of Fish Creek and its AVF is located above an elevation of 6,500 feet. Therefore, TCC does not anticipate any impacts to Threatened or Endangered plant species. Subsequently, the 18-Right Ventilation Shaft and 6-Main North Ventilation Shaft and associated ancillary facilities were planned, permitted, and developed. Given that development of these facilities did not involve any wetlands disturbance, and that site elevations are above the habitat preference limits, TCC does not anticipate any impacts to Threatened or Endangered plant species. 18-Right Ventilation Shaft (TR04-44) In accordance with section 404(b)(1) of the Clean Water Act (40 CFR 320) a routine wetland delineation was performed for the proposed project area. Wetland boundaries were detemuned in the field in accordance with the US Army Corps Wetland Delineation Manual (Technical Report Y-87-1, Jan. 1987). Habitat Management • Inc. conducted the survey on October 21st, 2003. "Normal" site conditions prevailed at the time of survey. A detailed report for the wetland delineation is provided in Exhibit 16D, Wetland Delineation Report, RAG Twentymile Coal Company, Fish Creek Vent Shaft, October 2003. A summary of the report follows. The proposed bleeder shaft and access road are located primarily in Section 11, of Township 5 North, Range 86 West, in Routt County Colorado (Map 1 W). The proposed shaft pad at an elevation of 6667' is 280 by 280 feet. A wetland survey was conducted for an area encompassing a 500-foot corridor around the pad. The access road is approximately 7,114 lineal feet from start to end point. A 100-foot wide corridor was surveyed along the entire length of the proposed access road comdor at a width of 50 feet perpendiculaz from each side of the centerline. Wetlands located within the project area are located east of the access road at its starting point, and in the vicinity of the proposed shaft pad. Aside from these areas the project is located within upland grass and shrub plant communities. A stock pond and a drainage Swale are located immediately east of the proposed access road at its starting point (Exhibit 16D, Photos 1 & 2, Map 1 W). The stock pond has been constructed in an intemuttent channel indicated by a dashed blue line on the USGS topographic map of the area. A Swale dominated by hydrophy[ic vegetation is situated upstream of the pond. The Swale is approximately 500 feet long with a groundwater seep located at the upward limit of the wetland area. This seep provides hydrologic support for the wetland and stock pond while maintaining hydrophytic vegetation and hydric soil conditions down-gradient from the seep within the confines of the drainage Swale. Up-gradient from the seep the Swale is dominated by upland vegetation. The pond is classified as a lacustrine deep water habitat with an unconsolidated mud bottom. The swale and perimeter vegetation around the pond are classified as palustrine emergent wet meadow. There are small patches of emergent marsh vegetation around the perimeter of the pond. Fish Creek is a lower perennial riverine system with defined bed and bank and an unconsolidated gravel Coble • bottom (Exhibit 16D, Photos 3 & 4). The banks of the creek channel slope steeply and provide limited area for the growth of wet meadow wetlands. The creek is subject to periodic flooding by storm water runoff and seasonal snowmelt. No aquatic bed is present and a nominal amount of emergent marsh wetland maybe found where scour does not preclude growth of this vegetation community. There is a narrow band of persistent emergent wetland PRO6-07 2.04-61.1 11/07/06