2014-10-10_REVISION - C1996083 (5)

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mining method to longwall mining but kept the rate of production at two million tons per year. Approval of Permit Revision No. 3 increased maximum mine production to five million tons per year. Approval of Permit Revision No. 6 increased coal production to six million tons per year. Approval of Permit Revision No. 7 permitted the construction of portals and facilities to mine the B -2 coal seam. The five year B -2 coal seam mine plan was approved through Permit Revision No. 8. Permit Revisions No. 9, 10, and 11 expanded B seam operations and added permit area acreage. PR -12 abandoned plans to complete mining in the Iron Point Tract, and incorporate umined areas of the Bowie No. 1 Mine for B -2 seam mining under the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit. PR -13 revised the mine plan in the B -2 coal seam and extended the proposed mine plan to the north through the acquisition of two lease modifications. Current mining is in the B -2 coal seam. Detailed information regarding the Bowie No. 2 Mine and BRL is located in the eleven volumes which comprise the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit application document. Site Description Land Use and Cultural and Historic Resource Information Detailed information regarding land uses and cultural and historic resources within the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit area is provided in Sections 2.04.3 and 2.04.4 of the permit application document. A brief summary is provided below, and this summary is derived from the information presented within Sections 2.04.3 and 2.04.4 of the permit application document. The Bowie No. 2 Mine permit and adjacent area includes a mix of land uses. The lower elevation areas are used for pasture, cropland, orchards, residential and industrial uses. Agricultural uses are served by irrigation water. The higher elevations within and adjacent to the permit area support some rangeland use, and the areas offer abundant wildlife habitat. The lands also support various recreational uses. Historic and current mining operations also exist in the general area. The Bowie No. 1 Mine is located west of the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit area. The Terror Creek Loadout is located to the south of the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit area, adjacent to the Unit Train Loadout. The reclaimed Blue Ribbon Mine is also located nearby along Hubbard Creek, as are outlying facilities associated with the Sanborn Creek Mine. Historic coal mines located within and adjacent to the Bowie No. 2 permit boundary include the King Mine, the Gelwick Mine, the Blue Ribbon Mine and the Farmers' Mine. The former town site of Bowie is located within the Bowie No. 2 permit area. With the initial permit approval, three historic sites not associated with important persons or events in history were evaluated by the Colorado Historical Society. One prehistoric site was determined to be ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places. The town site of Bowie and the King Mine, however, were determined to be eligible the National Register of Historic Places. Although it was determined that deterioration and alteration had lessened their integrity, the Colorado Historical Society found that the structures still retained "a sense of place since new buildings have not been constructed within its borders." The Colorado Historical Society directed BRL to conduct a Level II survey of the two eligible sites; the survey was completed in September 1996. As requested by the Colorado Historical Society, BRL has committed to stop construction of any surface disturbance and evaluate the situation appropriately, in consultation with the Colorado Historical Society, if previously unknown cultural resources should be discovered. Page 15 of 46