2009-04-29_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A (5)

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Following the consultation meeting, the Applicant submitted a letter to the CMLRD, CDOW, and Office of Surface Mining (OSM) outlining the results of this meeting and the general level of wildlife information requested. This letter and letters of response and concurrence from the CMLRD, CDOW, and OSM are contained in Exhibit 17, Letters of Regulatory Concurrence on Level of Detail of Required Wildlife Information. In the spring of 1984 the Applicant contracted the services of Cedar Creek Associates (CCA) in Fort Collins, Colorado, to conduct wildlife studies and prepare wildlife permit sections for TCC's Foidel Creek Mine. Field studies were initiated in April, 1984, and completed in July, 1984. The following sections describe the study methodologies employed by CCA, and also list other pertinent studies and documents that were reviewed for use in compiling species lists and describing the general faunal and habitat characteristics of the permit area. Methodology _Numerous fish and wildlife resource investigations have been conducted in the vicinity of the Twentyrnile Park permit area. In 1975 a Dames and Moore study (Exhibit 18, Baseline Environmental Report for Proposed Coal Mine Expansion) examined terrestrial fauna in Sections 1, 12, 13, and portions of Sections 2, 11 and 14, TSN, R86W; Sections 5, 6, 7, 8, 17 and 18, TSN, R85W; Sections 25, 36 and portions of Sections 26 and 35, T6N R86W; and Sections 30, 31 and 32, T6N, R85W. Additional wildlife inventories were conducted in the vicinity of the permit area by ERT/Ecology Consultants, Inc. in 1979 (Exhibit 19, Fish and Wildlife Resources Information, Eckman Park Permit Area). Aquatic monitoring studies have been conducted on Fish Creek, Foidel Creek and Middle Creek (Exhibit 20, Aquatic Biological Survey of Middle Creek and Fish Creek Area, Exhibit 21, Aquatic Biology Survey of Foidel Creek and its Unnamed Tributary, and Exhibit 22, Aquatic Biology Monitoring Survey of Foidel Creek). This yearly monitoring of macrophytes, fish and benthic invertebrates was terminated on December 6, 1982 when the CMLRD approved a request by the Applicant to curtail the aquatic monitoring program because the Applicant and the CDOW felt that existing data was sufficient and additional monitoring was TR09-66 2.04-62 02/17/09