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COAL MINING & INDIANA BAT POPULATION TRENDS

COAL MINING & INDIANA BAT POPULATION TRENDS. KIMERY VORIES OSM ALTON, IL. CURRENT STATUS.

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COAL MINING & INDIANA BAT POPULATION TRENDS

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  1. COAL MINING & INDIANA BAT POPULATION TRENDS KIMERY VORIES OSM ALTON, IL

  2. CURRENT STATUS • OSM has initiated meetings with the Assistant Regional Directors with Regions 3,4,and 5 of the US FWS to explore options for resolution of regional inconsistencies with handling SMCRA permitting related to T & E species.

  3. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Range of theIndiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)in relation to Eastern U.S. Coal Fields ApproximateIndiana BatComposite Range(summer and winter) Isolated Record Priority I Hibernacula(>30,000 bats since 1960) Anthracite (potentially minable) Lignite (potentially minable) Low Volatile Bituminous (potentially minable) Medium and High Volatile Bituminous (potentially minable) Medium and High Volatile Bituminous (other uses) Bat ConservationInternational Coal field and Indiana bat range (based on data compiled by Bat Conservation International) boundaries were accessed via The National Atlas of the United States (http://nationalatlas.gov). Map prepared by Andrew King, Bloomington, Indiana Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

  4. SMCRA PERMITING ISSUES FOR INDIANA BATS • Inconsistency of Species Specific Protective Measures • Inconsistent adoption of OSM/FWS 1996 Biological Opinion • Overemphasis on Protection of Summer Habitat • Inadequate emphasis on Protection of Winter Habitat

  5. DIFFERENCESIN PROTECTION & ENHANCEMENT PLANS • Trigger for Summer Survey • Types of Survey • PEPRequirement • Radio Telemetry Requirement • Minimize Take • Short Term Habitat Replacement • Long Term Habitat Replacement

  6. Trigger for Summer Survey • OH Demonstrate IB habitat does not exist or survey. • WV Over 40 acres of disturbance may Survey or Assume Presence. Over 247 acres must survey. • TN Within 10 miles of winter hibernacula or 5 miles of summer capture occurrence • KY Area with summer habitat assume presence or survey (Unapproved)

  7. Radio Telemetry Requirement • OH, TN, WV Requirement Not Addressed • KY Radio Telemetry Required for all captured Indiana bats (Unapproved)

  8. 1996 Biological Opinion • Corp of Engineers Section 404 Permit Requirement for full Section 7 Consultation • No mention of 1996 Biological Agreement in USFWS Indiana Bat Revised Recovery Plan

  9. Overemphasis on Protection of Summer Habitat • FWS FR NOTICE OF March 6, 2007 that States that summer habitat is not limiting to the species.

  10. Range-wide Population of Indiana Bats

  11. Southern Region Population of Indiana Bats

  12. Northern Region Population of Indiana Bats

  13. OSM TREND ANALYSIS • BAT POPULATION CHANGE VERSUS PERCENT COAL PRODUCTION CHANGE AS AN INDICATOR OF RATE OF GROWTH OR DECLINE IN COAL MINING ACTIVITY

  14. IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands)VERSUS (%) CHANGE IN COAL PRODUCTION Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

  15. TREND ANALYSIS • POPULATION CHANGE VERSUS TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION AS AN INDICATOR OF THE INFLUENCE OF A LARGE VERSUS SMALL STATE COAL MINING INDUSTRY

  16. TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION (Millions of Tons) VERSUSIN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) LARGE MEDIUM SMALL Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

  17. TREND ANALYSIS • POPULATION CHANGE VERSUS PERCENT COAL PRODUCTION TREND BY SURFACE VERSUS UNDERGROUND METHODS • GREATER THAN 60% OF COAL MINED IN THE STATE BY SURFACE MINING METHODS • GREATER THAN 60% OF COAL MINED IN THE STATE BY UNDERGROUND METHODS

  18. IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) VERSUS (%) CHANGE IN COAL PRODUCTION FOR SURFACE MINED STATES Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

  19. IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) VERSUS (%) CHANGE IN COAL PRODUCTION BY UNDERGROUND MINED STATES Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

  20. TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION (Millions of Tons) FOR SURFACE MINED STATES VERSUS IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population MEDIUM SMALL

  21. TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION (Millions of Tons) FOR UNDERGROUND MINED STATESVERSUS IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population LARGE MEDIUM

  22. RESULTS • NO TREND COULD BE IDENTIFIED BETWEEN CHANGES IN INDIANA BAT POPULATIONS AND ASPECTS OF COAL PRODUCTION OR MINING METHOD EITHER POSITIVE OR NEGATIVE.

  23. WHAT IS THE REAL REASON FOR THE DECLINE? • Instead of mist netting the Eastern U.S. you needn’t look any further than your Internet.....

  24. Decline of Indiana bats in Missouri • Missouri Caves AssociationCLICK on the CAVE NAME to open their web site. • Missouri Membersof MCA • Bluff Dwellers Caverns &Browning MuseumBridal CaveCameron CaveCathedral CaveCrystal CaveFantastic CavernsFishers CaveJacob's CaveMark Twain CaveMarvel CaveMeramec CavernsOnondaga CaveOzark CavernsRound Spring CavernsTalking Rocks Cavern

  25. Decline of Indiana bat in Arkansas ArkansasMembersof MCA Blanchard Springs CavernsBull Shoals CavernsCosmic CavernsHurricane River CaveMystic CavernsOld Spanish Treasure CaveWar Eagle Caverns

  26. In Conclusion, What is Required for Recovery? Detect, Restore & Protect Key Caves Protect and/or Modify Potentially Suitable Abandoned Mines Potential for Success? Outstanding! M. Tuttle BCI 2007

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