2011-10-17_REVISION - C1980007 (2)

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Loggerhead shrike (Lanius ludovicianus, a Federal category 2 species), use has not been recorded on the study area, although potential breeding and nesting habitat is present. Loggerhead shrikes are dependent upon sagebrush and gambel oak shrub communities for breeding and nesting habitat in this region during spring and summer. They are uncommon in the area during winter. For specific information regarding study areas, methods for identification and counting of the various wildlife present in the area, see Section 2.04.11 of the permit document. Additional information on fish and wildlife in the PR -14 project area is contained in the copy of the Federal Environmental Impact Statement for the Deer Creek Shaft and E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project which can be found in Exhibit 79 of the permit application. Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan - Rule 2.05.3 and 2.05.4 Mining at the West Elk underground mine began in 1982. The West Elk Mine leasehold consists of mineable coal reserves in six Federal coal leases, one private lease and other fee coal properties. The mine permit area encompasses approximately 17,155 acres. Current coal production ranges between 6.5 and 7 million tons per year using the longwall mining method. Six major coal seams exist on the West Elk Mine property. The seams are identified by the letters A through F, in ascending stratigraphic order. The seams are separated by shale, siltstone, and sandstone beds that vary in thickness from 15 feet to more than 250 feet. MCC's leasehold has economically minable coal reserves in two of the seams, the B Seam and the E Seam. Mining was by room - and - pillar methods until 1990 when longwall mining began in the B Seam. The mine plan for the B Seam is shown on Map 52 of the permit application. MCC has completed mining in the B Seam in the following four leases: D- 044569, COC- 54558, COC- 0117192, and C -1362. As of early 2008, MCC was longwall mining the B Seam in the Box Canyon portion of lease COC -56447 (approved in PR -08) and maintains active development entries in a fee lease area in Sylvester Gulch in Section 15- T13S -R9OW (approved in TR -107). B Seam mining has previously been approved for COC -67011 (PR -11), located in the West Flatiron area. There are B Seam mineable reserves in a portion of C- 0117192 where the F Seam is mined out. The mine plan for E Seam is shown on Map 51 of the permit application. As of late 2008, MCC maintains active development entries in the E Seam in leases COC- 56447, D- 044569, and C- 1362. These entries will provide access to E seam longwall panels 1 through 9 that are to be mined in lease C -1362 in the South of Divide area, as approved in PR -10. MCC will access the E seam in the South of Divide (PR -10) area and Dry Fork lease (PR -12) area through the mine's existing F to B seam slopes and will utilize the existing surface facilities near State Highway 133; consequently, no additional surface facilities or associated surface disturbance were proposed in PR -10 or 12. Surface disturbance and drilling of methane drainage wells in E Seam panel 1 was approved in Technical Revision 111. E Seam mining of longwall panels 10, 11, and 12 was approved in PR -6 and is planned to occur prior to mining the underlying B Seam panels. Mountain Coal Company mined in the F Seam from 1982 to 1991 in leases D- 004569 and C- 0117192. This mining was only marginally successful. Poor mine roof conditions, sandstone 15