2017-02-03_REVISION - C1980004 (6)

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of topsoil for reclamation. Limitations exist for subsoils in the alluvial deposits along valley bottoms due to high sodium content. Vegetation types within and adjacent to the permit area are broadly classified as lower montane. Three primary vegetation types occur in the permit and adjacent area. A greasewood shrubland type occupies the flat terrain along the East Salt Creek drainage where soils are deep, well drained and often very sodic and moderately saline. Shadscale shrubland borders the greasewood shrubland along the dry, steep, south facing slopes in the shallower soils which are interspersed with rock outcrops. Juniper woodland is found along the ridge tops and steep north and west facing slopes of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types are common to western Colorado and Utah. Current and historical land use within the permit area is livestock grazing and wildlife habitat. Cattle are run seasonally within the rangelands and grazeable woodlands. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans The McClave Canyon Mine is currently an inactive underground coal mining operation. As previously described, on February 15, 2011 the Division received notification from McClane Canyon Mining, LLC that the McClave Canyon Mine is in temporary cessation and will likely remain in that status for a year or more. The permit area encompasses 2,560.5 acres, of which approximately 1,903.1 acres are projected to be affected by mining, under the current mining plan. Permitted surface disturbance is 17.65 acres. Existing facilities consist of a portal bench and coal handhng/stockpile area; an access/had road approximately '/z mile in length leading from State Highway 139 up to the portal area; an office trailer, bathhouse and parking area on the East Salt Creek valley floor; and topsoil and construction material stockpiles, temporary waste storage pile, a supply storage area and sediment pond mid -way between the office area and the portal bench area. The two-level portal bench area includes a mine conveyor to a portal- mouth screen and crusher, which feeds product coal onto a stacker conveyor. Coal is stockpiled on the lower level bench and loaded into trucks for transport to market. Facilitie s on the upper level mine bench include four portal entries, including the fan portal and conveyor portal, water and fuel tanks, support trailers, a shop, a transformer and substation, ventilation fan, and rock dust bin. Disturbed areas include ditches and culverts for drainage and sediment control. A sediment cleanout stockpile is located adjacent to the sediment pond, and several small temporary coal waste storage piles are approved in the vicinity of the product coal stockpile. Material from these temporary stockpiles was periodically hauled to an approved permanent coal waste disposal site in the adjacent Munger Canyon Mine permit area. The waste disposal site at the Munger Canyon Mine is now closed and fully reclaimed. The final certification and quarterly inspection for this pile was performed on April 16, 2008. The disturbed acreage also includes a reclaimed emergency drill pad site and associated light use road that was constructed on the North Fork of Munger Creek in December 2005, and reclaimed in the winter and spring of 2006. Coal is mined underground using room and pillar techniques. Prior to 1991, a total of 526,666 tons of coal had been produced at the mine. 193,954 tons were produced in 1991, and 7,913 tons were produced in 1992. No coal was produced in 1993 through 1996. 49,115 tons were produced in 1997. The operation was idle during 1998 and most of 1999. The mine was re -activated in the 4th quarter of 1999, and coal production was re-initiated in February 2000. Coal production in calendar 2000 was 305,332 tons, with annual production ranging between 199,650 and 327,000 14