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McClane Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment
<br />Creosote - treated wood railroad ties would be used, on the bridge across Reed Wash. Toxicity of
<br />creosote is due to organic constituents,- including PAHs (see discussion, above); which can be
<br />subject -to bloaccumulation in aquatic invertebrates and fish. Creosote- derived PAH
<br />accumulations in fish can lead to cancer and teratogenesis (Washington State Department of
<br />Natural Resources, 2008).
<br />Propylene glycol would be sprayed on coal arid coal cars as a de-icer to minim! ie freezing of
<br />coal during winter months rather than ethylene glycol (antifreeze).. Propylene glycol is
<br />considerably less toxic than ethylene glycol (U.S. 'Department of Health and Human Services.
<br />1997; New Hampshire Department of Environinehtal Services, 2006),_ for',which toxicity
<br />thresholds are very low to aquatic invertebrates ( >20,000 mg/L) and fish ( ;17,800 mg /L) (World
<br />Health Organization, 2000). Prbpyl6he glycol used to de-ice cdai cars would not be considered
<br />a risk to Colorado pikeminnow or the water quality PCE in Reed Wash.
<br />Control of noxious weeds at .the- Mine and Loadout Facility involves proposed use of several
<br />commercial herbicides (including active ingredients) including Roundup ( glyphosate), Escort
<br />(metsulfuron- methyl), Curtail (clopyralidid and 2,4 -D), - and Arsenal (imazapyr). - Garlon4 or
<br />Pathfinder 11 (tryclopyr) might be uses! at , some locations, on the -Mine to* specifically control
<br />tamarisk. Although comparative toxicities to endangered Colorado River fish species have not
<br />been found in the literature, use of triclopyr ester and possibly use of glyphosate may present a
<br />high toxicity risk to endangered fish species based, in part, on sensitivity responses to the
<br />insecticide carbaryl (Fairchild, 2003): Other herbicides, principally metsulfuron - methyl,
<br />imazapyr, and clopyralid are practically. non -toxic to fish (Washington State Department of
<br />Transportation, 2011).
<br />Cumulative Effects. Cumulative effects include the effects of future State, tribal, local, or
<br />private -actieris that are reasonably certain to occur in the Action Area considered in this BA.
<br />Future federal actions that are ;unrelated. to the Proposed Actioh are not considered because
<br />they require separate consultation pursuant to section 7 of the ESA (FWS and NMFS, 1998).
<br />No'State, tribal; local, or private actions. are'reasonably certain to occur within Reed Wash and
<br />the 100 -year floodplain.
<br />As the human population in Mesa and Garfield counties expands, in part due to economic
<br />growth by the oil and gas industry, cumulative effects to the Colorado River system are
<br />anticipated in the foreseeable future. Within the - Action Area (the Upper Colorado River Basin
<br />and listed species' critical habitats in the Colorado River from Reed Wash downstream to Lake
<br />Powell, Utah) increased traffic due to increase human populations could increase potential for
<br />accidental spills of petroleum products and increase the spread of noxious weeds within the
<br />Action Area. Both effects could be deleterious to Colorado River fish species, but levels of risk
<br />can not be determined.
<br />These effects are expected to be similar to those that -have affected endangered Colorado River
<br />fish including physical alterations (impoundments and .diversions), chemical changes to habitats
<br />(FWS, 1980), changes in river flow regimes; migratory barriers, changes in water temperature,
<br />competition and predation by exotic fish species, parasites, and altered food base (FWS, 1987;
<br />FWS, 2002a). None of those effects, whether.due to State, tribal, local, or* private actions, are
<br />reasonably certain to occur within the Action Area in the future.
<br />4.3.1.4 Conservation Measures
<br />The following conservation measures have been proposed to avoid or•minimize effects by the
<br />Proposed Action to Colorado pikeminnows and critical habitat in Reed Wash and the 100 -year
<br />floodplain.
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