1988-04-11_PERMIT FILE - C1981008A ‎(24)‎

• Permit No: C1981008A
• IBM Index Class Name: PERMIT FILE
• Doc Date: 4/11/1988
• Doc Name: Correspondence Related to the Nucla East Expansion Area Baseline Wildlife Studies
• Section_Exhibit Name: Tab 11 Attachment 11-1
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

PeabodN
PEABODY COAL COMPANY 1300 South Yale
Western Division Flagstaff,Arizona 86001
[phone]
July 6, 1987
Mr. Peter O'Connor
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division
423 Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, CO 80203
RE: Nucla East Baseline Fish and Wildlife Studies
Dear Mr. O'Connor:
The following describes the approach that Peabody proposes
to use to conduct the baseline wildlife studies at the Nucla
East study area. Initially, Peabody planned to use the
original Nucla baseline studies to support a permit
application for Nucla East. However, because of the
relative size and location of the two study areas, and the
amount of time that has passed since the Nucla studies were
completed, we determined that additional field studies were
needed to augment the original work.
The major objectives of the studies are to: 1) perform
qualitative and quantitative studies of the terrestrial and
aquatic communities represented in the study area with
respect to vertebrate species present, habitat affinities,
abundance and diversity; 2) identify and evaluate any
Federal and/or State candidate and listed threatened and
endangered species and their critical habitats should any be
found in the study area; and 3) compile the information
necessary for assessing potential mining-related impacts and
planning enhancement and mitigation activities as warranted.
The studies were designed in consultation with CMLRD,
Colorado Division of Wildlife (Rick Sherman at the Montrose
office) , and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Bob
Leachman at the Grand Junction office of Fish and Wildlife
Enhancement).
The study area is defined as the approximately 595-acre
proposed permit area identified in Vern Pfannenstiel ' s
letter of June 15, 1987, plus an approximate one-half mile
buffer beyond the proposed permit area boundary. The major
habitats that have been recognized closely correspond to the
vegetation and land use types described by Vern in the
previously referenced correspondence, except that the
various agricultural types have been combined for sampling
or reconnaisance purposes. Therefore, sampling and/or
reconnaisance will be conducted at various levels of
intensity in the following habitats: