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McClane Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment <br />• Implementation of the Fugitive Coal Dust Emission Control Plan proposed for the <br />Loadout Facility will reduce the possibility of coal dust contaminants affecting <br />Colorado pikeminnows in Reed Wash and downstream in the Colorado River. <br />• Construction of a deck beneath the rails on the proposed bridge across Reed Wash <br />and the 100 -year floodplain will minimize the possibility of hazardous materials from <br />trains, from coal, and from creosote from affecting Colorado pikeminnows in Reed <br />Wash and downstream in the Colorado River. <br />• Pile driving will not occur within the water column. Although fish may hear noise <br />from driving piles, sound levels would not result in injury because the shock wave <br />energy would dissipate through sediments. <br />• Standard stormwater and spill containment Best Management Practices for water <br />quality will avoid increased sedimentation or contaminant loading in East Salt Creek, <br />Reed Wash, and the Colorado River. <br />• Potentially toxic herbicides will not be applied to control tamarisk or other invasive <br />species within the 100 -year floodplain of the Colorado River and riparian zone of <br />East Salt Creek. <br />The Project is likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnows because: <br />• Water withdrawal from the Colorado River and /or from aquifers connected to the <br />river by the Proposed Action would adversely affect Colorado pikeminnows. <br />However, the amount of water depleted annually by the Proposed Action is less than <br />100 acre -feet and a contribution to the species' recovery would be waived. <br />Critical Habitat Effects. The Project may affect Colorado pikeminnow designated critical <br />habitat because: <br />• Designated critical habitat for Colorado pikeminnow is present within the Action Area <br />• and the project would physically alter 0.124 acre of critical habitat within the 100 -year <br />floodplain in Reed Wash. <br />The Project is not likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnow critical habitat because: <br />• There are approximately 40.53 acres of critical habitat that have been mapped by <br />FEMA within the 100 -year floodplains of Reed Wash and Loma Drain, combined. <br />The project would physically alter 0.124 acre (railroad bed and rip -rap) within the <br />100 -year floodplain in Reed Wash, about 0.3 percent of the mapped total, which is <br />insignificant. <br />• Construction of the railroad bridge across critical habitat will not cause avulsion of <br />the 100 -year floodplain or inundation beyond Reed Wash. The railroad bridge <br />surface would not be flooded by the 100 -year flood event. <br />• The bridge has been designed so that all support pilings will be outside of the Reed <br />Wash OHWM, minimizing effects to water and physical PCEs. <br />• Effects to the water quality PCE in Reed Wash will be minimized by measures <br />described above for the Loadout Facility: lining sediment ponds to prevent seepage <br />of water and dissolved constituents into Reed Wash and mobilization of <br />contaminants in pond substrates, removal of water from sediment ponds and <br />disposal at a commercial facility rather than pumping and discharge into Reed Wash, <br />minimizing toxic compounds from entering Reed Wash through the railroad bridge, <br />control of fugitive coal dust, and restricting water discharge with selenium <br />concentrations greater than the numeric standards for the waterbody. <br />28 <br />