COAL MINING & INDIANA BAT

POPULATION TRENDSKIMERY VORIES

OSM

ALTON, IL

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.

ApproximateIndiana BatComposite Range(summer and winter)

Anthracite (potentially minable)

Lignite (potentially minable)

Low Volatile Bituminous (potentially minable)

Medium and High VolatileBituminous (other uses)

Medium and High VolatileBituminous (potentially minable)

Coal field and Indiana bat range (based on data compiled by Bat Conservation International) boundaries were accessed via The National Atlasof the United States (http://nationalatlas.gov). Map prepared by Andrew King, Bloomington, Indiana Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Bat ConservationInternational

Isolated Record

Priority I Hibernacula(>30,000 bats since 1960)

U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceRange of theIndiana Bat (Myotis sodalis)

in relation to Eastern U.S. Coal Fields

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

DIFFERENCESIN PROTECTION

& ENHANCEMENT PLANS• Trigger for Summer Survey

• Types of Survey

• PEP Requirement

• Radio Telemetry Requirement

• Minimize Take

• Short Term Habitat Replacement

• Long Term Habitat Replacement

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)

Radio Telemetry Requirement

• OH, TN, WV Requirement Not Addressed

• KY Radio Telemetry Required for all captured Indiana bats (Unapproved)

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

Overemphasis on Protection of Summer Habitat

• FWS FR NOTICE OF March 6, 2007 that States that summer habitat is not limiting to the species.

0100000200000300000400000500000600000700000800000900000

1000000

1965 1980 1990 2001 2007

Population

Range-wide Population of Indiana Bats

0

100000

200000

300000

400000

500000

600000

700000

800000

1965 1980 1990 2001 2007

VA

TN

OK

MO

KY

IL (s)

AR

AL

Southern Region Population of Indiana Bats

0

50000

100000

150000

200000

250000

300000

350000

1965 1980 1990 2001 2007

WVVTPAOHNYNJMIINIL (n)

Northern Region Population of Indiana Bats

OSM TREND ANALYSIS

• BAT POPULATION CHANGE VERSUS PERCENT COAL PRODUCTION CHANGE AS AN INDICATOR OF RATE OF GROWTH OR DECLINE IN COAL MINING ACTIVITY

IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands)VERSUS (%) CHANGE IN COAL PRODUCTION

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

MO KY AR TN VA AL OK PA OH WV IL IN

Coal

BatsExpected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

TREND ANALYSIS

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

TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION (Millions of Tons) VERSUS IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands)

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

WV KY PA IN VA IL OH AL TN MO AR

Coal

BatsExpected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

LARGE MEDIUM SMALL

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

IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) VERSUS (%) CHANGE IN COAL PRODUCTION

FOR SURFACE MINED STATES

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

MO AR TN OK IN

Coal

BatsExpected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands) VERSUS (%) CHANGE IN COAL PRODUCTION

BY UNDERGROUND MINED STATES

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

KY VA AL PA OH WV IL

Coal

Bats

Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION (Millions of Tons) FOR SURFACE MINED STATES VERSUS

IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands)

-350

-300

-250

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

IN TN OK MO AR

Coal

Bats

Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

SMALLMEDIUM

TOTAL COAL PRODUCTION (Millions of Tons) FOR UNDERGROUND MINED STATES

VERSUS IN BAT POPULATION CHANGE (Thousands)

-200

-150

-100

-50

0

50

100

150

200

WV KY PA VA IL OH AL

Coal

Bats

Expected Trend Line for Mining to Negatively Impact Bat Population

LARGE MEDIUM

RESULTS

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

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.....

Decline of Indiana bats in Missouri

• Missouri Caves Association CLICK on the CAVE NAME to open their web site.

• Missouri Membersof MCA

• Bluff Dwellers Caverns &Browning MuseumBridal CaveCameron Cave Cathedral CaveCrystal CaveFantastic CavernsFishers CaveJacob's CaveMark Twain CaveMarvel CaveMeramec CavernsOnondaga CaveOzark CavernsRound Spring CavernsTalking Rocks Cavern

Decline of Indiana bat in Arkansas

ArkansasMembersof MCA

Blanchard Springs CavernsBull Shoals Caverns

Cosmic CavernsHurricane River Cave

Mystic CavernsOld Spanish Treasure Cave

War Eagle Caverns

Detect, Restore & Protect Key Caves

Protect and/or Modify Potentially Suitable Abandoned Mines

Potential for Success?

Outstanding!M. Tuttle BCI 2007

In Conclusion, In Conclusion, What is Required What is Required

forfor Recovery?Recovery?