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maps discussed in this section. Potential raptor nest sites that could possibly be impacted by <br /> mine related activities will be relocated to a nearby area not targeted for disturbance. <br /> Electric power poles located within the permit area are constructed to minimize potential <br /> electrical hazards to large raptors. Persistent pesticides are not be used on the mine site. <br /> D. Specific Findings Required by Rule 4.18 <br /> Wildlife habitat is a planned postmining land use. Colowyo has selected appropriate plant <br /> species and distributions to benefit wildlife (Rule 4.18(5)(i)). <br /> XVIL Protection of Underground Mining- Rule 4.19 <br /> Colowyo will conduct no coal mining closer than 500 feet to any point of either an active or <br /> abandoned underground mine. Underground coal mines have been operated in the past by <br /> entities other than Colowyo, as discussed in Section 2.04.4 of the PAP, but their locations were <br /> on the northern side of Streeter Draw, well over 500 feet from present Colowyo mining. The <br /> surface mining activities of Colowyo have been designed so as not to endanger any present or <br /> future operations of either surface or underground mining operations (Rules 4.19(l) and <br /> 4.22.4(l)). <br /> XVIII. Subsidence Control - Rule 4.20 <br /> The Permit was found to comply with Rule 4.20 as well as Rule 2.05.6(6). <br /> Colowyo is mainly a surface coal mining operation. A small area was auger mined (see XXI <br /> below). The potential for subsidence over the auger mining was not considered a significant <br /> concern. The possibility of large scale pillar failure over an area sufficient to produce surface <br /> effects was considered very low (CTL/Thompson, Inc., "Auger Mining Analysis," February 5, <br /> 1996). <br /> A truck parking lot exists above a highwall mining area of the South Taylor Pit. Colowyo has <br /> designed the highwall mining in this area to minimize the impacts to the lot. The plan includes <br /> driving one highwall mining entry as deep as possible (under the lot), leaving the designed web <br /> pillar, driving the next entry and stopping it short of the lot, leaving another web pillar, than <br /> starting the process over again. Although there is no current requirement for monitoring of <br /> subsidence by Colowyo at the Mine, Colowyo is monitoring the possible movement or <br /> subsidence of the truck parking lot through visual inspection; this is done to meet Mine Safety <br /> and Health Administration (MSHA)requirements. <br /> XIX. Coal Exploration - Rule 4.21 <br /> Coal exploration outside the Permit boundary is not authorized by the mining permit with the <br /> Division, and is not addressed in this finding. <br /> Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 5,2023 <br /> Permit Renewal No. 8 Page 156 <br />