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-) <br />- sss <br />R~,-, <br />` `"~7Vc p <br />UNITED BTU EAU OF LAND NMANAGEMENT NTERIOR IygR~3 1994 <br />UNCOMPAHGRE BASIN RESOURCE AREA ~ ~"qc~p , <br />2505 SOUTH TOWNSEND AVENUE, MONTROSE, CO 8140`1`=~~~:a,t,,^, <br />(303) 249-6047 ~'•~; <br />In Reply Refer to: <br />n /] 3400 (CO-034) <br />O ~~ ( COC-54558 <br />CEO u U ~ 2 11994 <br />Memorandum <br />To: Rick Holbrook, Office of Surface Mining, 1020 15th Street, Denver, CO <br />80202 <br />From: Allan Belt, Area Manager <br />Subject: Coal Unsuitability Analysis for Jumbo Mountain Lease, Permit No. C-80-007 <br />This office has completed an Environmental Assessment and Unsuitability Assessment <br />(enclosed) for the Jumbo Mountain Lease. The application of the Unsuitability Criterion was <br />done as part of the Uncompahgre Basin Resource Management Plan in 1987 and reviewed again <br />in 1993 when the environmental analysis was completed for the Jumbo Mountain Coal Lease, <br />COC-54558. <br />It was found that the exceptions to Unsuitability Criteria 11 and 14 apply to the lease tract. <br />Special stipulations to protect bald and golden eagle nest sites and migratory birds are listed <br />below, In addition, new exceptions to Criteria No. 9 and 14 are addressed in the following <br />paragraph. No other exceptions to the Coal Unsuitability Criteria apply. <br />The Grand Mesa Penstemon and the loggerhead shrike have become Category 2 threatened and <br />endangered species since the application of the criteria in 1987. Criterion No. 9 states that <br />habitat for a proposed threatened or endangered plant or animal shall be considered unsuitable. <br />Criterion ]4 states that federal lands which are high priority habitat for migratory bird species <br />of high federal interest shall be considered unsuitable. The lands involved in Criteria No. 9 and <br />14 are suitable for coal leasing after applying the exceptions to the criteria. Mining would occur <br />approximately 500 to 1,200 feet below the surface and would not interfere with the habitat of <br />the penstemon or loggerhead shrike. In addition, if surface disturbance is proposed it would be <br />stipu]ated that a Threatened and Endangered plant survey be conducted and that habitat for the <br />loggerhead shrike be avoided. <br />