2008-09-29_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (17)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 4.18 Protection of Fish, Wildlife, and Related Environmental Values As described in Section 2.04.11, no threatened or endangered species have been identified within the active mining operation. Also, no critical habitat for any species is known to exist. Golden Eagle nesting complexes, which are located within the permit area but outside the area to be mined, are described in Section 2.04.11. Electric power lines and other transmission facilities in the permit area will be constructed in accordance with the guidelines set forth in the environmental criteria for Electric Transmission System by the United States Department of Interior (USDI) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 1970. Distribution power lines are to be constructed by guidelines set forth in the Rural Electrification Administration (i.e., Rural Utilities Service) 1979 Bulletin 61-10 and will suffice for Rural Utilities Service's current construction guidelines for raptor-safe power line structures. Colowyo's design criteria has been developed in association with the Avian Power Line Interaction Committee's (APLIC) Suggested Practices for Raptor Protection on Power Lines: "The State of the Art in 1996" (APLIC 1996). Please refer to the Figure 4.18-1 - Raptor Protection Retrofitting of Existing Power Poles. For structure configurations and retrofitting locations, please refer to Figure 4.18-2 through 4.18-6, and Maps 22A and 22B. The following schedule will be used to update existing power poles with adequate raptor protection in accordance to the guidelines. As part of Colowyo's Avian Protection Plan effort, EDM examined the distribution structures in July 2002 to identify pole configurations that present a risk to perching raptors and other large birds. EDM also conducted a reconnaissance of the 69kV power lines to record the overall structure configurations and determine if any of these configurations present an electrocution risk to area raptors. Additional transmission and distribution power lines located in and adjacent to the Colowyo Coal Mine are owned and operated by White River Rural Electric Association, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and Western Area Power Administration. The operation of these lines fall under the jurisdiction of each of these respective utilities and agencies. Distribution lines (less than 69 kilovolts {kV)) are of lower voltages than transmission lines and, therefore, have reduced hardware and equipment clearances. Depending on the pole configuration, perching on distribution line poles (particularly by juvenile birds) increases the potential of a bird connecting phase-to-phase or phase-to-ground, which typically results in bird mortalities and often leads to increased power outages. Although most of the 69kV structures examined during the July 2002 field survey were of sufficient clearance for eagles and other raptors, thereby minimizing any electrocution risk, a few 69kV structure configurations were identified that could represent an increased hazard. Two such configurations recorded included Gang Operated Air Brake Switches (GOABS) where the center phase switch was located less than 60 inches from the pole-top ground wire. The second 69kV configuration of concern included structures where the center phase jumper was placed on a crossarm insulator in close proximity to the pole-top ground wire. Colowyo is responsible for several miles of additional distribution lines on the mine that were not surveyed as part of the July 2002 study. However, these lines are currently de-energized, and the structures are scheduled for long-term removal as the mining operation expands and areas are reclaimed. In addition, a portion of the existing 4160 volt line located along the Taylor Creek drainage traveling south of the Taylor Pump Holding Pond were previously retrofitted to address the potential risk of raptor electrocution. As described in Section 2.05.6, all disturbed acreage, including roads, has been kept to a minimum by proper planning to reduce impacts to all environmental resources, including impacts on wildlife. Rule 4 Performance Standards 4.18-1 Revision Date: 6/23/08 Revision No.: MR-91