2013-04-18_PERMIT FILE - C2009087 (5)

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The most significant drainage in the PSCM permit area is Grassy Creek which is a perennial stream. It enters at the PSCM permit area at the southwestern margin and flows through the PSCM • permit area and north into the Yampa River. There are several unnamed drainages that cross the PSCM permit area that are associated with the steep draws in the east, as well as several of the more gradual, open draws in the central and west (most notably Annand Draw and Scotchmans Gulch), which generally drain to the north and feed into Grassy Creek as presented on Map 2.04.3 -M1, Land Use, and Map 2.04.3 -M2, Aerial Photo. The portal facilities are located near one of these tributaries (Little Grassy Creek). Little Grassy Creek parallels the lower access road which is then routed underneath the lower access road to flow north toward the Seneca II Mine Pond 002 ( Wadge Pond) and eventually into Grassy Creek. Several ponds and impoundments are present throughout the PSCM permit area and adjacent areas and most of them host at least some wetland vegetation along the shoreline. The larger impoundments are the Nofsteger (in Scotchmans Gulch) and Nofsteger Zeigler (in Annand Draw) reservoirs. These reservoirs are located in Township (T) 5 North (N), Range (R) 87 West (W), within Sections 4 and 9. Smaller impoundments and ponds exist in T6N, R87W, in Sections 27, 28, 34, 11, and 13 as shown on Map 2.04.3 -M1, Land Use, and Map 2.04.3 -M2, Aerial Photo. Pecoco Pond (T6N, R87W, NW 1 /a Section 2) falls within the proposed surface disturbance area while Wadge Pond (T6N, R87W, NE 1 /a Section 34) lies adjacent to the mine access road approximately one mile north of the portal facilities. See Section 2.04.7 for more details on hydrology. The PSCM permit area and adjacent areas are utilized by big game species, predominately elk (Cervus elaphus), but also mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), and pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana). In addition, the following avian species are known to use this site: Columbian sharp- tailed grouse (Tympanuchus phasianellus columbianus), various species of raptors, and the greater sandhill crane (Grus canadensis tabida). See Section 2.04.11 for more details on fish and wildlife. The PSCM permit area is bisected from the north and south by County Road 27. County Road 27A is just north of the PSCM permit boundary. County Road 51D comes in from the west of the PSCM permit boundary and merges into County Road 27. There are several other two track trails and roads throughout the PSCM permit area. Unimproved dirt roads and narrowed Seneca Mine roads cross the PSCM portal and surface facilities area. Several electrical transmission lines are present in the permit area. Of these, a high voltage transmission line corridor entering the northwestern permit boundary, running southeast and exiting the permit area in the southeast corner is present and contains 135 to 340 kilovolt (kV) lines. A 69 kV transmission line runs along the western boundary of the proposed surface disturbance area from the north to the south permit boundaries and is joined by a lateral line one half mile prior to leaving the permit area. The location of the transmission lines and roadways are shown on Map 2.04.3 -M1, Land Use. Private ownership is prevalent in the north and west portions of the PSCM permit area. A few small Bureau of Land Management (BLM) parcels exist within the PSCM permit area, one on the western edge of the PSCM permit boundary and one on the southern edge of the PSCM permit boundary. Ownership in the majority of the southeast portion of the permit area is State, but privately owned parcels are situated along the far southern portion of the PSCM permit area and adjacent area (Map 2.03.4 -M1, Surface Ownership). The portal facility area is located on State land while the access /coal haul roads are located on state and private land. See Section 2.03.4 for more details on • ownership. Historic Land Use PSCM Permit App. 2.04 -5 Revision 12/17/09