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PSMgNT OF lhF' ' United States Department of the Interior OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING „ ; Reclamation and Enforcement P. O. Box 46667 IN REPLY REFER TO: Denver, Colorado 80201-6667 CO-0013 June 15, 2009 E1VE® Mr. Al Pfister - Assistant Field Supervisor JUG 17 *1009 U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service „ociamation, Ecological Services and safety Western Colorado Office Mining 764 Horizon Drive, Building B Grand Junction, Colorado 81506-3946 RE: Section 7 Consultation, Trapper Mining Inc. "Trapper" mine, Permit C-1981-010 Proposed Trapper Mine Plan for 5 Year Permit Term 2008-2012, PR-06 Dear Mr. Pfister: The Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSM) Western Region is processing a Mining Plan Modification for the above subject in conjunction with a permitting action to be taken by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. The Trapper surface coal mine is located in Moffat County, Colorado, approximately six (6) miles south of the town of Craig, Colorado on State of Colorado, and private lands. The Trapper mine extends across the northern slope of the Williams Fork Mountains between elevations of 6,500 to 7,800 feet above sea level. The crest of the Williams Fork Mountains forms a ridge running east-west at elevations between 7,400 to 7,800 feet above sea level. The mining operations use a combination of dragline, truck/loader, and limited highwall miner mining methods. The average production rate is approximately 2.3 million tons per year from eight coal seams of the Williams Fork Formation but could reach a maximum production rate of 2.6 million tons per year. The Yampa River flows generally east to west a short distance from the permit area and the Williams Fork River skirts the south side of the permit area and flows into the Yampa River approximately one mile west of the permit area. Within the permit area, on north facing slopes, include portions of the Buzzard, Coyote, No Name, Johnson, Pyeatte and Flume flow generally south to north primarily in response to snowmelt or heavy rains and all discharge eventually into the Yampa River. Drainages within the southern portion of the permit area include portions of Ute, Castor, Deer, Elk, and Horse Gulches flow generally southward into the Williams Fork River. The mountain shrub community within the permit area gradually thins in term of density and cover from east to west giving way to a community of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentatal) and grasses to the western side of the permit area. Descending northward from the ridge of the TAKE PRIDE IN AMERICA ;,tom'