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. Bat Conservation International
Approximate Indiana Bat Composite Range (summer and winter)
Anthracite (potentially minable)
Lignite (potentially minable)
Low Volatile Bituminous (potentially minable)
Medium and High Volatile
Bituminous (other uses)
Bituminous (potentially minable)
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 ( Map prepared by Andrew King, Bloomington, Indiana Field Office, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Bat Conservation International
Isolated Record
Priority I Hibernacula (>30,000 bats since 1960)
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
Range of the Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis) in relation to Eastern U.S. Coal Fields

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. DIFFERENCES IN 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

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) VERSUS IN 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 STATES VERSUS 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 Association CLICK on the CAVE NAME to open their web site.
Missouri Members of MCA
Bluff Dwellers Caverns & Browning Museum Bridal Cave Cameron Cave Cathedral Cave Crystal Cave Fantastic Caverns Fishers Cave Jacob's Cave Mark Twain Cave Marvel Cave Meramec Caverns Onondaga Cave Ozark Caverns Round Spring Caverns Talking Rocks Cavern

25. Decline of Indiana bat in Arkansas
Arkansas Members of MCA
Blanchard Springs Caverns Bull Shoals Caverns Cosmic Caverns Hurricane River Cave Mystic Caverns Old Spanish Treasure Cave War Eagle Caverns

27. 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