2009-08-13_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (4)

Home Browse Search

RULE 2 PERMITS 2.04.11 (5) Threatened and Endangered Plant Species In the recent past (25-30 years), vegetation surveys in the area conducted by numerous private consultants, governmental agencies, and Colowyo personnel have failed to discover or indicate potential for occurrence of any rare, threatened, or endangered plant species within the previously approved permit area or the permit revision area. The United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Endangered Species list was reviewed to identify plant species that are threatened, endangered, and candidates for listing that may be present in the permit revision azea. No plant species were identified on the Moffat County Endangered Species list. Four plant species including Dudley Bluffs Bladderpod (l.esquerella congesta), Dudley Bluffs (Piceance) Twinpod (Physaria obcordata), Graham Beardtongue (Penstemon grahamii), and White River Beardtongue (Penstemon scariosus var. albifluvis) were identified on the Rio Blanco County Endangered Species list. According [o a letter from the Bureau of Land Management dated July 28, 1997, these species are restricted to areas outside the vicinity of the mine area and are not expected to be present within the mining area. A copy of the BLM letter is included in Exhibit 10, Item 4 of the existing Colowyo permit document. In May 2005 a specific request was made of the Colorado Natural Heritage Program for all records of sensitive plants and animals within two miles of the Proposed Collom Permit Area which includes all of the Lower Wilson Study Area for Vegetation and Soils. The results of this request were negative for all floral species. A summary of the USFWS Endangered Species list is included in Table 2.04.11-]5. 2.04.12 Prime Farmland Investigation The presence of potential prime or important farmlands within the proposed disturbed areas associated with the South Taylor/I,ower Wilson mine azeas was determined based on a reconnaissance inspection. Results of the investigation indicate that all of the area potentially disturbed by surface operations or facilities associated with these areas can be excluded as prime or important farmland, since the land has not historically been used as cropland. Colowyo requested a prime farmland determination for the permit revision area-from the U.S Department of Agriculture -Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in 2002. The NRCS responded to the request in a letter dated October 9, 2002 which indicated that no areas of prime farmland are present in the proposed expansion area. A copy of the letter is presented in Exhibit 9, Item 4 of the existing permit document. Based also on soil survey information, no soil surveys encountered within the proposed disturbed area associated with the areas of impact of the permit revision area have been designated as soil map units classified as prime or important farmland. Based upon the information presented in this section, Colowyo recommends a negative determination for prime farmland within the permit boundary. 2.04.13 Annual Reclamation Report Colowyo has been and will continue to submit annual reclamation reports for all permitted mining areas. LJ South Taylor/Lower Wilson-Rule 2, Page 89 Revision Date: 11/30/06 Revision No.: PR-02