February 12, 2015 - Navajo Generating Station – Kayenta Mine

United States Department of the Interior
I N REPLY REFER TO: PXA0-1500
ENV-7.00
BUREAU OF RECLAMATION Lower Colorado Region Phoenix Area Office 6150 West Thunderbird Road Glendale, AZ 85306-4001
FEB 12 2015
MEMORANDUM
To:
Field Supervisor, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arizona Ecological Services, 2321 West Royal Palm Road, Suite 103, Phoenix, AZ 85021-4951 Attention: Mr. Steve Spangle From: Alexander B. Smith ~
Chief, Environmental Resource Management Division Subject: Navajo Generating Station and Kayenta Mine Complex (NGS-KMC) Project (Project)
-Informal Request: Confirmation of Revised Species List for Section 7 Consultation
This letter respectfully request written confirmation of the attached list of species (Table 1) and
associated critical habitats (as applicable) that will need to be considered during the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) section 7 consultation for the NGS-KMC Project. The Service's response to
this request will inform on-going planning efforts for Project compliance with the ESA.
Confirmation of the attached list will allow the Bureau of Reclamation to refine continuing
efforts to gather information on these species in support of a Biological Assessment (BA) for the
Project. A request for formal consultation will be made at a later time. The attached list was
developed using the Service's Information, Planning, and Conservation System (IPaC) in
combination with Natural Heritage Program data from Arizona, Utah, and Nevada and input
received from agency biologists during various meetings and conference calls conducted for the
Project.
Project Overview
Reclamation is developing an Environmental Impact Statement under the National
Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for the analysis of potential effects associated with
reauthorization of the NGS-KMC Project. Following the end of the current lease period, the
Salt River Project Agricultural Improvement and Power District and the Peabody Western Coal
Company are seeking to continue operations of the Navajo Generating Station (NGS) and the
Kayenta Mine Complex (KMC) from December 23,2019, through 2044. The NGS is a
2,250 megawatt coal plant located on the Navajo Indian Reservation near Page, Arizona (Figure
1). The KMC is a coal mine located on Black Mesa approximately 60 miles southeast of the
NGS on leased land within the boundaries of the Navajo Nation and Hopi Tribe Indian
Reservations (Figures 1 and 2). Federal actions are required to extend, renew, or reissue the
NGS plant lease and a number of rights-of-way (ROWs), agreements, and approvals through
2044. Federal approval of a permit revision also is required to the KMC life-of-mine mining and
2
reclamation plan (LOM Plan) for KMC to continue mining through 2044. The following
provides a brief summary ofthe proposed Project:
NGS
• No major changes involving new surface disturbance activities are proposed.
• Project components include power generation facilities, water supply pump station and
waterline, ash disposal area, rail line, Western Transmission System, Southern Transmission
System, and the Navajo portion of the Moenkopi-ElDorado Transmission Line and
Moenkopi switchyard.
• The NGS portion ofthe'Project will renew two existing transmission line ROWs (Western
and Southern Transmission Systems) (Figure 1). No new disturbance would occur for the
transmission line ROWs; however, operation and maintenance of these ROWs will continue
and be part of the Proposed Action.
KMC
• Mining areas will continue to be developed/mined and reclaimed in accordance with the
proposed LOM Plan for the following Kayenta Mine areas: J-21, N-9, J-21 West, J-28, N-11
extension area, and N-10. As part ofthe NGS-KMC NEPA process and ESA Section 7
consultation, environmental baseline information will be updated for coal reserve areas J-21
West, J-28, N-11 extension area and N-10.
• The Kayenta mine boundary will be expanded to incorporate 18,857 acres of the Black Mesa
Mine. Eight hundred and forty-one (841) acres containing facilities (including maintenance
shops, roads, utilities, impoundments, administrative offices, fuel storage sites, equipment
storage areas, monitoring stations, a warehouse, and the company airport) that support
Kayenta Mining will be incorporated into the Kayenta Mine permit application package. The
remaining 18,016 acres ofthe former Black Mesa Mine area is comprised ofland which was
previously mined and reclaimed, undisturbed land, and undisturbed coal resource areas. The
land comprising the 18,016 acres is not proposed to be mined or incur any new surface
disturbance. Areas previously disturbed within the 18,016 acres as a result of mining, will
remain as prelaw or initial program jurisdiction lands.
• Indian Route 41 will be realigned for approximately 4.5 miles within the permit area to
improve operational efficiency and safety (Figure 2).
The preliminary action area for federally listed and candidate species includes the proposed
KMC Permit Area (including the proposed incorporation ofthe 18,857 acres ofthe Black Mesa
Mine) as well as the conveyor line to the rail load-out site; the railroad ROWs from the load-out
facility toNGS; the NGS and ancillary facilities including the water intake, pump house and
water line; the ash disposal area and the ash disposal road; the ROWs for the Western and
Southern Transmission System corridors and the areas of direct and indirect Project-related
impacts around each of these project components (Figure 1). For example, based on initial
atmospheric deposition modeling, the preliminary action area includes the area around NGS in
which the deposition of heavy metals occurs due to current operations of the coal-fired facility.
3
This area is roughly estimated to be a 20-kilometer (12.4-mile) radius circle centered on NGS
(Figure 1). The atmospheric deposition area will be refined and provided to the Service after site­
specific modeling is conducted and the NGS near-field Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) is
completed. The preliminary action area also includes portions of the Colorado River upstream
and downstream of the 20-kilometer radius area (i.e., the NGS "Gap Regions"),
the San Juan Arm of Lake Powell, and the San Juan River upstream to the Highway 371 Bridge
in Farmington, New Mexico. Note that the exact upstream and downstream extents of the
preliminary action area in the Colorado River have not yet been identified; these will be
determined based on the results of the Gap Region ERA. The upstream extent of the
San Juan River component of the preliminary action area is based on the study area for the NGS
San Juan River ERA and may be adjusted based on the results of that analysis.
Please review the attached list in light of the preliminary action area described above and let us
know if you have any questions, comments, or revisions. If not, please confirm that you concur
with the list of species provided in Table 1 to be carried forward in the BA for the NGS-KMC
Project.
Attachments - 3
cc: Ms. Brenda Smith
Assistant Field Supervisor
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Ecological Services
Southwest Forest Science Complex
2500 South Pine Knoll Drive
Flagstaff, AZ 86001
Mr. Rick Williamson
Manager Permitting Branch
Indian Program and Washington
Program Mines
Program Support Division, Western
Region
Federal Office ofSurface Mining
Reclamation and Enforcement
1999 Broadway, Suite 3320
Denver, CO 80202
Ms. Harrilene J. Yazzie, Supervisory
Environmental Protection Specialist
Bureau of Indian Affairs - Navajo Region
Division of Environmental, Cultural and
Safety Management
P.O. Box 1060
Gallup, NM 87301
Mr. R. Spencer Martin
Senior Project Manager/Ecologist
AECOM Environment
93 5 Williamstown Court.
Park City, UT 84098
Mr. Chip Lewis
Acting Regional Environmental Officer
Western Regional Office
2600 North Central Avenue,
4th Floor Mailroom
Phoenix, AZ 85004-3050
Table 1.
List of Federal Species Considered1 for the NGS/KMC Project by Component [ Draft for Discussion Purposes Only] (February 2015)
NGS
Species
Status
2
State/County Occurrence
Related to Project Study Area
Deposition Area
(20 km)
NGS Gap
3
Regions
San Juan River &
Riparian Corridor
KMC Lease
Boundary
N-Aquifer
Study Area
Southern
Transmission
System
P
P
P
Western
Transmission
P
System
Mammals
Black-footed Ferret
(Mustela nigripes)
E
Arizona (Coconino, Navajo, Yavapai)
Lesser long-nosed bat
(Leptonycteris curasoae yerbabuenae)
E
Arizona (Maricopa)
P
Birds
California Condor
(Gymnogyps californianus)
E/EN
Arizona (Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Yavapai);
Utah (Kane, San Juan, Washington)
K
K
California Least Tern
(Sterna antillarum browni)
E
Arizona (Maricopa, Mohave)
Mexican Spotted Owl
(Strix occidentalis)
T
Arizona (Coconino, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo,
Yavapai);
Utah (Kane, San Juan, Washington)
P
P
Southwestern Willow Flycatcher
(Empidonax traillii extimus)
E
Arizona (Coconino, Maricopa, Mohave, Ya­
vapai);
Nevada (Clark, Lincoln);
Utah (Kane, San Juan, Washington)
K
P
Sprague's Pipit
(Anthus spragueii)
C
Arizona (Maricopa)
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
(Coccyzus americanus)
T
Arizona (Coconino, Maricopa, Mohave, Navajo,
Yavapai);
Nevada (Clark, Lincoln);
Utah (Kane, San Juan, Washington)
Yuma Clapper rail
(Rallus longirostris yumanensis)
E
Arizona (Maricopa, Mohave);
Nevada (Clark)
P
K
K
K
K
P
P
K
4
K
P
P
P
K
K
K
2
(CH)
P
P
K
2
(PCH)
P
P
P
(PCH)
P
P
Table 1.
List of Federal Species Considered1 for the NGS/KMC Project by Component [ Draft for Discussion Purposes Only] (February 2015)
NGS
Species
Status
2
State/County Occurrence
Related to Project Study Area
Deposition Area
(20 km)
NGS Gap
3
Regions
San Juan River &
Riparian Corridor
KMC Lease
Boundary
N-Aquifer
Study Area
Southern
Transmission
System
Western
Transmission
System
Reptiles
K
(CH)
Mojave Desert Tortoise
(Gopherus agassizii)
T
Arizona (Mohave);
Nevada (Clark, Lincoln) ;
Utah (Washington)
Northern Mexican Garter Snake
(Thamnophis eques megalops)
T
Arizona (Coconino, Mohave, Navajo, Yavapai)
Sonoran Desert Tortoise
(Gopherus morafkai)
C
Arizona (Maricopa, Mohave, Yavapai)
C
Arizona (Mohave); Nevada (Clark)
Brady Pincushion Cactus
(Pediocactus bradyi)
E
Arizona (Coconino)
Dwarf Bearclaw-poppy
(Arctomecon humilis)
E
Utah (Washington)
Fickeisen Plains Cactus
(Pediocactus peeblesianus var. fickeiseniae)
E
Arizona (Coconino, Mohave)
Gierisch Mallow
(Sphaeralcea gieris chii)
E
Arizona (Mohave);
Utah (Washington)
P
Holmgren Milkvetch
(Astragalus holmgreniorum)
E
Arizona (Mohave);
Utah (Washington)
P
Jones Cycladenia
(Cycladenia humilis var. jonesii)
T
Arizona (Mohave);
Utah (Kane)
P
Navajo Sedge
(Carex specuicola)
T
Arizona (Navajo);
Utah (San Juan)
P
(PCH)
P
Amphibians
Relict Leopard Frog
(Lithobates onca)
K
Plants
K
K
P
P
K
K
(PCH)
P
K
K
K
(PCH)
(PCH)
Table 1.
List of Federal Species Considered1 for the NGS/KMC Project by Component [ Draft for Discussion Purposes Only] (February 2015)
NGS
Species
Status
2
State/County Occurrence
Related to Project Study Area
Deposition Area
(20 km)
NGS Gap
3
Regions
San Juan River &
Riparian Corridor
KMC Lease
Boundary
N-Aquifer
Study Area
Southern
Transmission
System
Siler Pincushion Cactus
(Pediocactus sileri)
T
Arizona (Coconino, Mohave);
Utah (Kane, Washington)
Welsh’s Milkweed
(Asclepias welshii)
T
Arizona (Coconino, Navajo);
Utah (Kane)
K
Bonytail
(Gila elegans)
E
Utah (Kane)
K
Colorado Pikeminnow
(Ptychocheilus lucius)
E
Arizona (Mohave); Utah (Kane, San Juan)
K
Desert Pupfish
(Cyprinodon macularius)
E
Arizona (Maricopa, Yavapai)
P
Gila Chub
(Gila intermedia)
E
Arizona (Yavapai)
K
Gila Topminnow
(Poeciliopsis occidentalis)
E
Arizona (Yavapai)
K
Humpback Chub
(Gila cypha)
E
Arizona (Mohave, Yavapai); Utah (Kane, San
Juan)
Loach Minnow
(Rhinichthys cobitis)
T
Arizona (Yavapai)
Razorback Sucker
(Xyrauchen texanus)
E
Arizona (Coconino, Mohave);
Utah (Kane, San Juan)
Roundtail Chub
(Gila robusta)
C
Arizona (Coconino);
Utah (Kane, San Juan)
Spikedace
(Meda fulgida)
E
Arizona (Yavapai)
Virgin River Chub
(Gila seminuda)
E
Arizona (Mohave);
Utah (Washington)
Western
Transmission
System
P
P
P
P
K
Fish
5
K
(CH)
5
K
(CH)
K
(CH)
6
K
(CH)
K
(CH)
K
(CH)
6
K
(CH)
6
K
K
(CH)
K
K
K
(CH)
K
(CH)
Table 1.
List of Federal Species Considered1 for the NGS/KMC Project by Component [ Draft for Discussion Purposes Only] (February 2015)
NGS
Species
Woundfin
(Plagopterus argentissimus)
Status
2
State/County Occurrence
Related to Project Study Area
E
Arizona (Mohave);
Utah (Washington)
Kanab Ambersnail
(Oxyloma haydeni kanabensis)
E
Arizona (Coconino)
Page Springsnail
(Pyrgulopsis morrisoni)
C
Arizona (Yavapai)
Deposition Area
(20 km)
NGS Gap
3
Regions
San Juan River &
Riparian Corridor
KMC Lease
Boundary
N-Aquifer
Study Area
Southern
Transmission
System
Western
Transmission
System
K
(CH)
Invertebrates
6
K
P
1
Occurrence Categories: K = Known occurrence based on Natural Heritage Program data, Navajo NHP data, data from the Peregrine Fund (California Condor) and agency input; P = Potential occurrence based on habitat information, agency input, and the USFWS
IPaC system.
2
Federal Listing Status: E = Endangered, T = Threatened, PT = Proposed Threatened, PE = Proposed Endangered, PEN = Proposed experimental/nonessential, C = Candidate, C* (Continued Warranted-but Precluded finding on a resubmitted petition for candidate
status), EN = experimental/nonessential, (CH) = Designated Critical Habitat within the Study Area, and (PCH) = Proposed Critical Habitat within the Study Area.
3
Two NGS Gap Regions are analyzed for potential risks to aquatic and semi-aquatic wildlife; risks to terrestrial receptors in the gap regions will be based on results of the NGS Near-Field ERA. Southwest Gap Region= lower Colorado River below Lee’s Ferry down
to the confluence of the Colorado and Little Colorado rivers; Northeast Gap Region =portion of Colorado River northeast of Lake Powell up to the confluence of the Colorado and Green rivers.
4
Known occurrences are actually 2 miles outside of the lease boundary.
5
A few individuals have been collected recently in Lake Powell as a result of movements from the upper portion of the Colorado River. However, Lake Powell is not considered to be habitat used by the species.
6
Species occurs outside of the 20 km deposition area, however, it is included in the list due to proximity to the deposition boundary or consideration of contamination movement downstream of the area and the cumulative effects analysis.