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includes the permit area. As mining operations move to the north, the ditch will be replaced by a <br /> permanent pipeline. <br /> ERMR conducted baseline water monitoring on twenty surface water sites within and adjacent to <br /> the permit boundary. In addition to the monitoring conducted by ERMR, Peabody Coal <br /> Company conducted baseline monitoring in the early 1980's prior to mining in what is now the <br /> southern portion of NHN. ERMR also collected surface water data on Tuttle Draw for it is <br /> adjacent to the the New Horizon Mine. Maps 2.04.5-1, 2.04.7-1, and 2.04.7-10 of the permit <br /> application package depict all of the surface water monitoring sites. Baseline data on the 2nd <br /> Park Lateral and Tuttle, Nygren, and Meehan Draws have been collected (monthly field <br /> parameters and bi-monthly laboratory analysis) since October 2008 and are available in <br /> Appendix 2.04.7-2. <br /> Climate-Section 2.04.8 of the permit <br /> The climate of the NHN area is typical of intermountain regions. It is characterized by hot <br /> summers, cold winters, low precipitation, and relatively short growing seasons. Climatological <br /> information for the area is described in Section 2.04.8 of the permit. A NOAA weather station is <br /> located at Uravan, Colorado, approximately 10 miles northwest of the permit area at an elevation <br /> of 5,010 feet. The mine receives approximately 12 inches of precipitation in an average year. <br /> The majority of the precipitation falls between May and October. The average annual <br /> temperature is 53.4° F, and the prevailing wind direction is ESE at 7.8 mph. <br /> Soils -Section 2.04.9 of the permit <br /> The applicant conducted a detailed baseline soil survey of the entire NHN Mine permit area in <br /> 2008. For this effort, a total of 183 backhoe pits were dug, located as shown on permit Maps <br /> 2.04.9-2 and -3. Of these, 118 pits were dug at locations undisturbed by mining activities, while <br /> 65 were located within the area disturbed and reclaimed by Peabody. At each undisturbed <br /> location, a formal soil pedon description was taken. The completed pedon forms are found in <br /> Appendix 2.04.9-1. Each pit was photographed, and 28 samples from I 1 sites were collected for <br /> laboratory analysis. Table 2.04.9-6 lists the chemical and physical properties of those samples. <br /> For test pits located in the disturbed and reclaimed area, only depths of topsoil to be salvaged <br /> were noted. <br /> WFC has mapped eight soil units in the NHN permit area: Aquolls, 0 to 3% slopes; 77 Pinon, 3 <br /> to 12% slopes; 78 Pinon, 5 to 30% slopes; 78 Ustic Torriorthents, 5 to 30% slopes; 81 Progresso <br /> loam, 3 to 6% slopes; 82 Progresso loam, 6 to 12% slopes; and Rock Outcrop-Orthents Complex, <br /> 40-90% slopes. Soils redistributed upon the reclaimed Peabody disturbance are mapped as REC. <br /> Suitability of the various soils for salvage was determined using criteria of the Wyoming <br /> Department of Environmental Quality (WyDEQ) "Suitability Ratings for Soils as Sources of <br /> Topsoil Material". All of the soils were rated "good" with respect to soil reactivity, electrical <br /> conductivity, saturation percentage, sodium adsorption ration, Selenium, and Boron. Texturally, <br /> the samples were classified as "good"to "fair". With respect to Moist and Dry Consistence, <br /> most of the samples corresponded with the "good" to "fair" suitability classes. The most limiting <br /> 12 <br />