2010-05-07_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A (11)

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RULE 2 - PERMITS 2.04.11 Fish and Wildlife Resources Information • This section of the permit application describes fish and wildlife resources and their habitats within the PSCM permit area and adjacent areas. The information in this section may be used as a basis for understanding site - specific conditions in order to evaluate potential mining related impacts to fish and wildlife populations and habitat. Furthermore, this information provides a foundation for determining any fish and wildlife mitigation measures that may be necessary for inclusion under Section 2.05.6 (2), Mitigation of the Impacts of Mining Operations — Fish and Wildlife Plan. The section is organized as follows: first, habitat types and important wildlife habitat features within the PSCM permit area are discussed; next, occurrence data, both historical and from recent surveys are presented for species of interest for this permit. Finally, any special status fish and wildlife species with potential to occur in the PSCM permit area are described. Special status species include federally or state listed threatened and endangered species; state species of special concern; and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) sensitive species. Fish and Wildlife Habitat The habitat types within the PSCM permit area and adjacent areas are typical of the foothills in northwest Colorado. Mountain brush, sagebrush shrublands, and grasslands are the predominant vegetation communities in the PSCM permit area. Mesic bottoml.ands and riparian areas occur along larger drainages in the PSCM permit area. Several ponds and impoundments are present and contain some wetland vegetation in the PSCM permit area. Forests and woodlands are sparse, but consist of isolated pockets of aspen and coniferous forest on northern aspects and the upper reaches • of high elevation drainages. Scattered large trees, including box elder (Acer negundo) and cottonwood (Populus spp. ), are present in drainages and provide potential nesting and perching sites for raptors. Additional important raptor nesting habitat is located in the cliffs and rock outcrops located along ridges and steep drainages. Fish habitat is limited in the PSCM permit area due to the scarcity of perennial water. The majority of the proposed PSCM surface disturbance area is comprised of reclaimed grasslands with small pockets of sagebrush- ;grasslands and mountain brush also present (ESCO, 2009). Historical and Recent Fish and Wildlife Occurrence An abundance of wildlife occurrence data has been collected in and around the PSCM permit area over the duration of previous coal mining projects in this region. The PSCM permit area overlaps and adjoins the permit areas for two surface coal mines that have now been reclaimed: the Seneca II Mine located to the northeast of PSCM, and the Yoast Mine located to the southwest respectively. The PSCM, Seneca II Mine, and Yoast Mine wildlife monitoring programs were designed with input from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) to comply with the regulatory requirements under the CDRMS guidelines for fish and wildlife issues. Prior consultations with these agencies resulted in the determination that species of particular interest for permitting the were big game (elk (Cervus elaphus), mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and pronghorn (Antilocapra americana)), two species of upland grouse (Columbian sharp- tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus) and greater sage - grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus)), all raptor species, and the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida). Baseline surveys that were conducted in 2008 to acquire site- specific data for PSCM were focused on these target species. PSCM Permit App. 2.04 -149 6/15/09