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14. Specific approvals have been granted or are proposed. These approvals are addressed in the following <br />section, Section B. (2.07.6(2)(m)). <br />15. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Exhibit 10 in the permit, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, <br />May 8, 1988 letter, concur that there are no threatened or endangered species in the area that will be <br />critically affected by mining operations. The operator submitted a revised Threatened and <br />Endangered Species Inventory for the mine on January 19, 2007. The report summarized that the <br />mining operations may have an effect on four endangered Colorado River fish, through pond water <br />evaporation in a tributary to the Colorado River. The report was forwarded to the Office of Surface <br />Mining (OSM) for consultation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Carl Johnston of OSM <br />confirmed in a telephone conversation on March 7, 2007 that OSM would not be involved in the <br />review, as the entire mine permit area is all privately owned land. As mining operations have ceased <br />and only reclamation monitoring remains, the Division fmds that the activities proposed by the <br />applicant would not affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the <br />destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats. (2.07.6(2)(n)). <br />16. The Division has contacted the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation Fees Branch. As of this time, <br />Honeywood Coal Company, the operator, is current in the payment of reclamation fees required by <br />30 CFR Chapter VII, subchapter R. (2.07.6(2)(0)). <br />SECTION B - Findings Required by Rule 4 <br />I. Roads — Rule 4.03 <br />A. In January, 1994, the Division approved Technical Revision No. 4 which allowed the retention <br />of the haul roads as they were consistent with the requirements of the land owners use for cattle <br />operations. <br />II. Support Facilities — Rule 4.04 <br />A. All support facilities have been removed in accordance with the reclamation plan. <br />III. Hydrologic Balance — Rule 4.05 <br />A. Water Quality Standards and Effluent Limitations <br />1. Surface Runoff - All surface runoff from disturbed areas is routed through sedimentation <br />ponds designed to treat runoff from 10 -year, 24 -hour storm events in order that discharges <br />meet applicable NPDES effluent limits <br />2. Sedimentation Ponds - Pond A's drainage basin is approximately 79 acres, of which about <br />55 acres were disturbed by mining. Pond A was reclaimed in late 2010. Pond B' s drainage <br />basin is approximately 357 acres, of which 30 acres were disturbed by mining. Retention <br />of Pond B as a permanent feature was approved under TR -09 in February 2011. <br />3. Surface and Ground Water Monitoring was temporarily halted in July, 1999 until two years <br />April 3, 2012 <br />RN4 <br />14 <br />