2012-03-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010088 ‎(28)‎

• Permit No: C2010088
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/7/2012
• Doc Name: USFWS Biological Opinion
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 19
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

McClane Canyon Mine Expansion and Fruita Loadout Facility Biological Assessment
• Implementation of the Fugitive Coal Dust Emission Control Plan -proposed for the
Loadout Facility will reduce the possibility of coal dust contaminants'affecting
Colorado pikeminnows in Reed Wash and downstream in the Colorado.River.
• Construction .of•a deck beneath the rails on the proposed bridge act'oss Reed Wash
and the 100 -year floodplain will minimize the possibility of hazardous materials from
trains, from coal, and from creosote from affecting'Colorado pikeminnows in Reed
Wash and downstream in the Colorado River.
• Pile driving will not occur within the water column. Although fish may hear noise
from driving piles, sound levels would not result in injury because the shock wave
energy would dissipate through sediments.
• Standard stormwater and spill containment Best Management Practices for water
quality will avoid increased sedimentation or contaminant loading in East Salt Creek,
Reed Wash, and the Colorado River.
• Potentially toxic herbicides will not be applied to control tamarisk or other invasive
species within the 100 -year floodplain of the Colorado River and riparian zone of
East Salt Creek.
The Project is likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnows because:
• Water withdrawal from the Colorado River and /or from aquifers connected to the
river by'the Proposed Action would adversely affect Colorado pikeminnows.
However,'the amount of water depleted annually by the Proposed Action is less than
100 acrez-feet and a contribution t6t,he species' recovery would be waived.
Critical Habitat Effects. The Project may affect Colorado pikeminnow designated critical
habitat because:
• Designated critical- habitat for Colorado pikeminnow is present within the Action Area
and the project would physically alter 0.124 acre of critical habitat within the 100-year
floodplain in Reed Wash.
The Project is not likely to adversely affect Colorado pikeminnow critical habitat because:
• There are approximately 40.53 acres of critical habitat' that have been mapped by
FEMA within the 100- year.floodplain8 of Reed Wash and Loma Drain, combined.
The project would physically alter 0.' 124 acre (railroad bed and rip-rap) within the
100 -year floodplain in Reed Wash, bout 0.3 percent of the mapped total, Which is
insignificant.
• Construction of the railroad bridge across critical habitat•will not cause avulsion of
the 100 -year floodplain or inundation beyond Reed Wash'.' The railroad bridge
surface would not be flooded by the 100 -year flood event.
• The bridge has been designed so that . ail support pilings Will be outside of the Reed
Wash OHWM, minimizing effects to water and'physical PCEs: -
• Effects to the water quality PCE in Reed Wash will be minimized by measures
described above for the Facility: lining sediment ponds to prevent seepage
of water and. dissolved constituents into Reed Wash and mobilization of
contaminants in pond substrates,, removal of water from sediment ponds and
disposal at a commercial facility rather than pumping and discharge into Reed.Wash,
minimizing toxic compounds from entering Reed VVash through.the railroad bridge,_
control `of fugitive coal dust, and restricting water discharge with selenium
concentrations greater than the numeric standards for the waterbodj'
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