2011-09-27_PERMIT FILE - C1982056A ‎(4)‎

• Permit No: C1982056A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 9/27/2011
• Doc Name: 15L Vent Shaft Wildlife Consultation
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 23C 15L Vent Shaft Wildlife Consultation
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

grouse and Greater sage - grouse that have been developed by CPW. They have been
adopted into rule by the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission as
recommended management actions that can be taken to minimize adverse impacts to
wildlife from oil and gas development; however, their use is appropriate in the case of
this proposal. The following recommendations are from this list and are ones that we feel
are especially applicable in this case.
CSTG /GSG
• Recommendation of no surface occupancy (NSO) within .4 miles of any active
CSTG lek or .6 miles of active GSG leks (Note: proposed vent shaft location is.35
miles from an active GSG lek)
• Avoid operations within 1.25 miles of any known CSTG lek or 4 miles of any
active GSG lek and within mapped CSTG or GSG breeding, summer, and winter
habitat outside the 1.25 and 4 mile buffers. Select sites for development that will
not disturb suitable nest cover or brood - rearing habitats within 1.25 miles of an
active CSTG lek or 4 miles of an active GSG lek, or within identified nesting and
brood - rearing habitats outside the respective 1.25 and 4 mile perimeters for CSTG
and GSG.
• Where activities must occur within 1.25 or 4 miles of active CSTG and GSG leks
or within other mapped CSTG or GSG breeding or summer habitat, conduct these
activities outside the period between March 15 to July 30 for CSTG and March 1
to June 30 for GSG.
• Restrict site visitations to portions of the day between 9:00 am and 4:00 pm
during the lekking season (March 1 to June 1 for CSTG and March 1 to May 15
for GSG).
• Use noise reduction equipment on any fans, compressors or associated equipment
(Note: operational noise should not exceed 49 dB measured at 30 feet from the
source).
• Use topographical features or berms to provide visual concealment of facilities
from known lek locations and as a noise suppressant.
• Design facilities and associated structures (i.e. rock dust bins) such that they do
not provide perches or nest substrates for raptors, crows and ravens.
• Install raptor perch deterrents on equipment, fences, cross arms and pole tops in
CSTG and GSG habitat.
In discussions about this project Peabody Coal representatives have indicated to CPW
that it is not possible for them to relocate the proposed vent shaft location. Therefore, in
regards to applying BMP's for the protection of both CSTG and GSG, it is CPW's
recommendation that construction activity take place outside of the period of March 1 to
July 30 to minimize impacts during the critical breeding and production periods for these
two grouse species. Furthermore, we suggest that the additional recommendations listed
above (bullet points 4 thru 8) regarding post construction site visitations, noise
abatement, and raptor deterrents be adopted to protect these species. CPW would also
encourage Peabody Coal to enter into discussions with us regarding potential mitigation
measures and/or a wildlife management plan to enhance and/or protect surrounding areas
of grouse habitat under their ownership or control in order to mitigate the cumulative
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