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In the baseline surveys, six general vegetation types were found: irrigated pasture, irrigated hay <br /> land, irrigated cropland (small grains), swale/drainage, sagebrush/grass, and various <br /> miscellaneous types related to old farmsteads, abandoned orchards, and disturbed areas. The <br /> mine area has been intensively developed for agricultural uses, including substantial acreage of <br /> irrigated hay cropland and irrigated pastureland. There are smaller acreages of sagebrush/grass <br /> type, swale drainages, and various miscellaneous cover types interspersed among the developed <br /> 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, Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, LLC is proposing to reclaim the land to <br /> irrigated pasture, irrigated cropland- alfalfa hay and dryland pasture. The distinction between <br /> irrigated cropland and irrigated pastureland is that more intensive management practices are <br /> allowed for cropland. The remaining lands will be returned to a combination of developed water <br /> resources (ponds), roads and commercial facilities. <br /> G. Fish and Wildlife <br /> The area surrounding the New Horizon Mine permit is used by a large variety of wildlife <br /> including coyotes, fox, mule deer, elk(in the winter) and numerous bird species. Fish and <br /> wildlife is not identified as a designated post-mining land use on the reclaimed permit area, but <br /> utilization by wildlife species is anticipated and has been observed. <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 /> Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br /> New Horizon Mine <br /> In February 1993, surface mining operations commenced at the New Horizon Mine 2. The <br /> annual production was approximately 400,000 tons per year. Historically, mining and <br /> reclamation activities were concurrent. Extraction of the coal resources were completed in 2013. <br /> The 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 /> to discrepancies found in the Peabody topsoil depth estimates. A mitigation plan was approved <br /> by the Division and implemented by the mine in 1996. <br />