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additional specific findings concerning these alluvial valley floors, please see Section B, Item <br />XVII of this document. <br />L Land Use. The Division approved the post- mining land use of the operation as rangeland. It <br />was determined that rangeland and wildlife use meet the requirements of Rule 4.16 for the permit <br />area [in compliance with Rule 2.07.6(2)(1)]. <br />J. Specific Approvals. Specific approvals required under Rule 4 have been granted. These <br />approvals are addressed in Section B of this document [in compliance with Rule 2.07.6(2)(m)]. <br />K. Endangered or Threatened Species. The Division finds that the activities proposed by the <br />Applicant would not affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result <br />in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats [in compliance with <br />Rule 2.07.6(2)(n)]. (See Letters, 28 July 1997 and July 29, 1997, United States Department of <br />the Interior, Bureau of Land Management, as Attachments 5 and 6, also found in Exhibit 10 of <br />the Permit). Additionally, through a request by the Office of Surface Mining, the USFWS <br />performed a formal Section 7 consultation (a biological assessment) for threatened and <br />endangered species at the Colowyo Mine. On October 30, 2012 the USFWS responded to the <br />OSM and issued a biological opinion stating that with regards to the proposed activities in the <br />Collom expansion area, all four endangered fish species will be adversely affected due to <br />anticipated water depletions. The USFWS also believes that the Greater sage - grouse would be <br />impacted. <br />The USFWS states that most, if not all, of the Collom Expansion area is within the Preliminary <br />Priority Habitat (PPH) for the Greater sage - grouse designated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife <br />(CPW). Colowyo proposes to mitigate impacts to Greater Sage - grouse and other migratory birds <br />with the following commitments: <br />1) Reduction in the proposed disturbance area footprint by 212 acres <br />2) Implement a focused effort to re- establish sagebrush on post- mining slopes less than <br />10 percent. <br />3) Convert 274 acres of wheat field to a conservation reserve program (CRP) equivalent <br />plant community that would act as additional habitat for sage grouse, mule deer, and <br />elk. <br />4) Avoidance of direct disturbance to all sage - grouse and Columbian sharp - tailed grouse <br />leks. <br />5) And the potential revision of grazing management in the area that would benefit local <br />grouse. <br />The USFWS supports the full implementation of these conservation measures. The USFWS also <br />recommends marking all wire fences in areas of high grouse use in the permit area to reduce <br />grouse collisions with fences during flight. This requirement is added as Stipulation No. 15 to <br />the permit. <br />Colowyo Coal Mine C1981 -019 PR -03 39 April 10, 2013 <br />