2011-08-05_PERMIT FILE - C1980007

Home Browse Search

Kaldenbach, Tom From: Gray, Daniel [degray @fs.fed.us] Sent: Thursday, August 04, 2011 6:22 PM To: Kaldenbach, Tom Cc: KWelt @archcoal.com; Taylor, Ryan Subject: TR 126/E3 -29 Methane Drainage Well Tom: Kathy Welt of Mountain Coal informed me that we needed to provide district biological input for Technical Revision 126 related to the E3 -29 methane drainage well. Last fall while Mike Peacock and I were laying out the methane drainage wells for the E3 panel I expressed some concerns about how close this well pad was to the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek. I proposed that we move it onto a gently sloping bench to the west of the creek to provide a buffer between the pad and the creek. The decision to move the well pad was for the protection of natural resources, particularly the water in the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek. I informed our district biologist Dennis Garrison of the changes we had made in the layout for this well pad and the rationale for the decision. He informed me that the only sensitive species that potentially could be affected are the northern leopard frog and the purple martin. Both of these species have already been analyzed in the Environmental Impact Statement for the E Seam Methane Drainage Wells Project (2007). The EIS decision document states with regard to the purple martin: "Spring construction activities could disturb or destroy nests. Birds could potentially re -nest in adjacent habitat and these disturbances would not be expected to reduce viability of the population (117)." The decision document in its summary of impacts to fish and wildlife concludes that the effects to purple martin will be the following: "May impact individuals and habitat, but would not indicate a local or regional change in habitat quality or population status (122)." With regard to the northern leopard frog, the decision document states the following: "While impacts on northern leopard frogs may occur as a result of these disturbances, disturbances would be short term and the viability of local populations would be protected through surveys and avoidance (116)." The determination in the summary of impacts statement in the decision document states: "May impact individuals or habitat, but would not likely contribute to a trend towards Federal listing or cause a loss of viability to the population or species (121)." The movement of this well pad further away from the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek will provide added protection for the water resources that support the northern leopard frog. If you have any more questions or need clarification regarding this technical revision please contact me or Ryan Taylor the District Minerals Administrator of the Paonia Ranger District. Sincerely, Daniel Gray (Natural Resource Specialist / Paonia Ranger District)