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Keenesburg Strip Mine (C-1981-028) MT-07 <br /> <br /> <br />Page 3 <br /> <br /> <br />Groundwater moves laterally toward the northeast, and apparently discharges into the sands and stream <br />deposits in Ennis Draw. <br /> <br />At the time the mine was originally permitted, groundwater in neither the coal nor overburden was <br />known to provide a water supply for any purpose in the vicinity of the mine. Since that time, <br />groundwater is being drawn for industrial uses at the mine, and a number of other wells have been <br />drilled in the vicinity of the mine (per a review of State Engineer Records). However, no adverse <br />impact from the mine has been observed or is expected, due to the geologic and hydrologic conditions <br />of the site. <br /> <br />Climate <br />The mine site is situated in an area which has a “continental” type of climate, characterized by low <br />relative humidity, a large amount of sunshine, light rainfall, moderately high winds, and large daily <br />range in temperature. Average monthly temperatures are presented in the following table. The data <br />are from Weather Trends (https://www.weathertrends360.com). These data are all within a couple <br />degrees of data for Brighton, Colorado from the Western Regional Climate Center (wrcc@dri.edu), <br />which is affiliated with NOAA and a leading authority on Colorado weather and climate. (WRCC data <br />does not include an extensive dataset for Keenesburg itself.) <br /> <br />Average Monthly Temperature at Keenesburg, Colorado <br />(All values in degrees Fahrenheit.) <br /> J F M A M J J A S O N D <br />Average high 45 47 57 63 72 84 90 87 80 67 55 45 <br />Average low 19 21 28 35 44 53 59 57 49 38 27 19 <br /> <br />For the years 2003 through 2018, annual precipitation ranged from 9.89 to 18.13 inches (from Annual <br />Hydrology Reports). <br /> <br />Vegetation, Wildlife and Land Use <br />The undisturbed lands in the permit area are moderately to well stabilized by a sandsage-prairie <br />sandreed plant association that is used primarily for grazing by cattle in summer months. <br /> <br />Using the United State Fish and Wildlife Service’s (USFWS) IPaC program available through the <br />USFWS website, there are three endangered plant species that have the potential to be found within the <br />permit area. These species include Colorado Butterfly Plant, Ute Ladies’ Tresses Orchid, and Western <br />Prairie Fringed Orchid. <br /> <br />Wildlife is limited to small rodents, primarily field mice, and birds with an occasional spotting of <br />raptors such as hawks or eagles. Deer and pronghorn are rare as are most higher order vertebrates. <br />There are no known threatened or endangered animal species, nor habitats for these species, in the <br />area. The Threatened and Endangered species discussed in the permit are accurate and up to date. <br /> <br />The premining land use classification of the area was rangeland, as shown on the general soil map of <br />Weld County (from the Soil Conservation Service and included in the Permit as page 37). The