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McClane Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment
<br />High concentrations of selenium have, been found in'Colorado. pikem(nnows inhabiting the -'.
<br />Colorado River within the 18 -mile reach (0smundson et al-.,* 2000).. Selenium levels present in
<br />fishes' muscle tissue ,appeared inversely ,related -' to -river -flows in the - --Colorado , River
<br />(Osmundson et al., 2000; Hamilton et.al., 2004.). The :ievels of - selenium- ' ' nus ''-- tissue of.
<br />pikeminnows in the 18 -mile reach (maWimum of .17.8 pg /g dry weight). exceeded levels, ♦(dry:
<br />weight: 4 pg /g whole body, 8 Pg /g muscie)-_r0bognized -es toxic to fish (Lemly,'.'1993; 'Lemly
<br />1996). Colorado:pikeiminnows expejmentaUy_ exposed -to -various . dietary and waterborne,
<br />coriceritratior)s of selenium produced eggs with;signifcantly' higher seienidrh levels than in the
<br />female .parent, although •.the _ data -`were insufficient to -evaluate .effects of ' selenium - on
<br />reproduction" .(Buhl and .Hamilton, 2000). Selenium: concentrations from_ -240 5. h6k :jh water '
<br />affect fish reproduction and .populations :but when selenium levels in fish tissues reach 13 to 26
<br />uglkg. (frsh; whole body :dry weht), teratogeriesis (abnormal embryonic -.deve)opmental) `'in
<br />embryos ensues. (Bureau "of Reclamation et, al., 1998; Leml}i, 1966 Section- 4.3,2:3,
<br />Razorback.Suckers, beIow).
<br />Bioaccbmulation of :seleniurnjn eggs.of two trout species - inhabiting streams .influericed by a-
<br />c6a) mine, in Alberta, Canada. resulted in- ,significantly :higher'. incidences . of tare #ogenic
<br />abnormalities in larvae'than for fish in non - affected. control 'streams :,(Holm et al., 2005). The
<br />elevated selenium levels 'In affected ;waters, (6 to 32 pg /L 'compared -to - .4 pg /. in unaffected
<br />waters) ,arid the two trout species' (9:9 pd /6 wet weight in rainbow trout eggs - compared .to <8.5
<br />pg /g wet weight. in e99spf control trout) were a result of mining`se'leniferous coal (Holm:et a1.,
<br />2005): ', Selenium-` teratogenesis and possible reproductive failure likely affect Colorado
<br />pike ' innows and the species' redbvery (FWS, 2009c; Hamilton, 1998). '
<br />The - Proposed Action - could increase selenium concentrations in East Salt Creek `arid Reed
<br />Vl/ash 'through surtaae runoff and direct: discharge.. of Water-hold_ in sediment ponds .qn either
<br />site. .Dissolved selenium held in ponds could .also :enter- the waterbodies -through_ infiltration ` -
<br />through groundwater ,.and,laferal.inoverh6nts through-the waterbodies' iiyporhe(c`zdnes (f ponds
<br />.are. -not .lined. -` .Sele"niutn";-concentrations become - elevated :!n evaporation ponds .as: water .
<br />. evaporates, - especially - n;arid environments (Seiler, -1998; ;Seiler et al.', 1999).. Deep :percolation -
<br />of.water (seepage beiQW'the roof zone:of:ptants) in,unlined'hoiding_ponds,couid bean important -.'.• -
<br />source of contaminant loading into the Colorado River in the ,Gr.'and Valley area
<br />Foi example; :three uttliried:fioldirig ponds, 4:6 to,.6.8 feet:.deep, ponstructed_on -loam or clay
<br />loan .in the Grand Valley; Iost a sesson,`average,of `11.64:acre -feet of water per surface- acre_of
<br />P due to seepage, alone (Mayo,2008)., i'onds.at the:LoadotA Facility will be constructed in
<br />Billings'loam tdsi(tyclay loam, alluvium deposits. mopt.- likely derived from.Maricos_Sl ale north of
<br />the property, i:,; The proposed Mine
<br />-s. invent pond would be within Cameo fine sandy.l&am, a
<br />- well- drainecla0. that iS.. eepeF_than,fp inches- to,badrock,'Z
<br />Coal - Releases.- Coal . could enter ;aquatic- environments through various pathways including
<br />wind erosion that generates_fugitive:coal dust, ";inadvertent spills of coal during transport, and
<br />slumping and rcinoff from `storage areas. Chemical ptopeities,of.coal can.- affect aquatic habitats
<br />through numerous, pathways :dttcluding (but, not limited to) release . of dissolved ,salts, trace.
<br />elements, and po(yaromatic hydrocarbons,(PAHs), although toxicity. via leaching dependIS on the
<br />coal -type; ' mineral. ,impurifies,- and leaahirig conditions (see Ahrens and Morrisey, 2005: for` - a
<br />comprehensive review).. _Potential toxicity of selenium in :coat and effects .'on, fish, were -
<br />addressed, above. Iri addition, exposure to'coal -dust c an ,lead to carcirtggenic effects.iri:fish,
<br />which -has been'shown when, PAHs id'-coal -dust stimulated :a gene (CYP.1Al) in'salmon that
<br />" Exhibit 07 — 2010 Train Loadout Soil Survey attached to CAM- Colorado, LLC' Fruita Load_ out, Colorado
<br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Permit No. C- 2020 -088.
<br />12 Appendix T and Figure 4.4 -2, McClane Canyon Mining, LLC Permit Revision Application Number 2.
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