Laserfiche WebLink
Vegetation Distribution <br />Vegetation in the area grows largely in response to macro -climatic influences of the region. The <br />north -facing slopes, having moderate to deep soils characterize a relatively mesic moisture regime <br />and favorable levels of insolation throughout the year, exhibit well-developed mountain shrub <br />communities. On colluvial toe slopes, communities dominated by sagebrush and grasses occur. <br />On the south -facing slopes behind the ridgeline of the Williams Fork Mountains, vegetative <br />communities are less developed with respect to cover, density, and production due to the less <br />favorable soils, moisture regime, and increased solar insolation. The trend in these areas is <br />toward communities dominated by juniper, pinon, mountain mahogany and xerophytes. <br />Historical farming and ranching within the current permit area modified, to varying degrees, natural <br />vegetative communities. Much of the land along toe -slopes and valley bottoms was cleared of <br />native vegetation and is currently used for dry land agriculture. Most of the north -facing slopes in <br />the area have been historically used for the grazing of sheep and/or cattle. These activities <br />produced a mosaic of vegetation communities in the permit area comprised of mountain shrub, <br />sagebrush/grass, and pinon/juniper. <br />Wildlife <br />Fauna are diverse in and adjacent to the permit area due to the wide variety of habitat types and <br />include: Antelope, Mule deer, Elk, Blue grouse, Columbian sharp -tail grouse, and sage grouse. <br />All are residents or occasional residents of the permit area, as are numerous types of <br />waterfowl, song birds and raptors. The area provides habitat and migration routes for antelope, <br />elk and mule deer. Raptors, several species of game birds, and numerous smaller mammals are <br />found in the Williams Fork Mountains and surrounding areas. <br />Land Uses <br />Land uses in the area are rangeland, wildlife habitat, and agriculture. Cattle and sheep graze in <br />the Williams Fork Mountains. Dry land wheat is cultivated on colluvial toe slopes of the <br />Williams Fork Mountains. Native hay and dry land wheat are cultivated on the soils of the <br />Yampa and Williams Fork River valleys. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The permit area covers 11,156.69 acres. This RN7 application will allow the company to continue <br />mining and reclamation as currently approved. <br />Mining Method <br />Total cumulative coal production over the life of the Trapper mine is projected to be a maximum <br />of 74 million tons. Coal mining occurs at the Trapper Mine using surface mining methods. <br />Draglines remove overburden and interburden, while front-end loaders and haul trucks remove <br />the coal seams. Trapper Mining, Inc. has historically oriented the pits north -south, parallel to the <br />downhill dip of the coal seams. PR -05 reoriented pits G, F and Z (East F -Pit) parallel with the <br />strike of the coal seams in an east -west direction. Strike line pits progress from north to south. <br />Page 10 <br />Trapper RN7 Prepared by: R. Reilley <br />Nov 2017 <br />