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intensively developed for agricultural uses, including substantial acreage of irrigated hay cropland <br />and irrigated pastureland. There are smaller acreages of sagebrush/grass type, swale drainages, <br />and various miscellaneous cover types interspersed among the developed agricultural lands. <br />Irrigated agriculture supporting livestock pasture and alfalfa hayland was the dominant land use. <br />Other land uses such as grazing of sagebrush habitats and wildlife use are largely incidental to <br />management associated with the irrigated lands. <br />Post -mining, ERMR is proposing to reclaim the land to irrigated pasture, irrigated cropland- alfalfa <br />hay and dryland pasture. The distinction between irrigated cropland and irrigated pastureland is <br />that more intensive management practices are allowed for cropland. The remaining lands will be <br />returned to a combination of developed water resources (ponds), roads and commercial facilities. <br />G. Fish and Wildlife <br />The area surrounding the NHM permit is used by a large variety of wildlife including coyotes, fox, <br />mule deer, elk (in the winter) and numerous bird species. Pond 007, which has been approved to <br />remain as a permanent feature following bond release, has been observed to attract various species <br />of migratory water fowl, including ducks, snow geese, great blue heron, white-faced ibis, and <br />Canada geese. <br />H. Climate <br />The regional climate of the Nucla area is typical of intermountain regions. The climate is <br />characterized by cold winters, hot summers, low rainfall, and short growing seasons. The mine <br />receives approximately 12 inches of precipitation in an average year. The majority of the <br />precipitation falls between October and May. <br />IV. Description of the Operations <br />New Horizon Mine I <br />The presently permitted New Horizon Mine 1 mine block encompasses 98.6 acres. The original <br />permitted Mine 1 block encompassed a significantly larger area, but the remainder of the original <br />permit block has been fully released from liability. The Mine 1 block was incorporated into <br />ERMR's New Horizon North Mine in June 2012. <br />New Horizon Mine 2 <br />In February 1993, surface mining operations commenced at the New Horizon Mine 2. The annual <br />production was approximately 400,000 tons per year. Historically, mining and reclamation <br />activities were concurrent. Extraction of the coal resources were completed in 2013. The <br />northwestern area of the permit is awaiting final backfilling and grading. <br />Topsoil salvaging depths and plans are detailed in section 2.04.9 and 2.05.4(2)(d). Actual topsoil <br />recovery was less than originally projected in portions of the original (pre -PR -5) permit area, due <br />16 <br />