2014-02-14_REVISION - C1981017 (14)

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of the disturbed areas. Areas disturbed, after the issuance of C- 1981 -017, were the sediment ponds, the rock tunnel waste disposal area, the refuse pile extension and the Sutey refuse pile. Topsoil was salvaged in these areas and was available during reclamation of the site. Vegetation communities identified within and adjacent to the permit area include aspen woodland, aspen shrubland, spruce -fir parkland, spruce -fir forest, oak shrubland, Thurber fescue meadow, alpine fellfield, alpine meadow, riparian woodland, and ponderosa pine woodland. The three major vegetation types within the disturbed area are aspen woodland, aspen shrubland and spruce -fir parkland. Most of the land area of Coal Basin has been under U.S. Forest Service management since 1913. It has been managed in accordance with a long- standing U.S. Forest Service policy for multiple uses, including recreation, watershed, grazing and wildlife habitat. Grazing and wildlife uses of the Basin continued, unabated, during mining. Plans for the postmining use of Coal Basin were developed and approved during the review of permit C- 1981 -017 in accordance with the wishes of the U.S. Forest Service to incorporate pre- mining multiple -use management for recreation, grazing and wildlife habitat. Mine History Coal Basin has a long mining history. The Colorado Fuel and Iron Co. (CF &I) mined a small portion of the permit area from 1895 until 1909. In 1953, Mid - Continent Resources began construction of new mining facilities and began mining from the Dutch Creek No. 1 mine in 1956. The Coal Basin operations included five adjacent underground mines. All were drift mines, driven from the outcrop down -dip under the eastern flank of Huntsman Ridge. Eventually, some of the mines were interconnected underground through a rock tunnel. Miners and equipment were brought to the surface from Mines 1 and 2 through one bore of the rock tunnel, while the second bore was used to remove coal to the surface. Mine facilities including a preparation plant, refuse piles, warehouses and offices were located at lower elevations near the confluence of Dutch Creek and Coal Creek. The mines, or entries, from north to south are: The Coal Basin No.5 Mine, opened in 1973 (old CF &I workings). The L.S. Wood No.3 Mine, opened in 1966. The L.S.Wood No.2 Mine, opened in 1973. The Dutch Creek No. 1 Mine, opened in 1956. The Bear Creek No.4 Mine, opened in 1969. The majority of the haul and light use roads, as well as the mine escapeways and portals in the 3