2025-06-30_PERMIT FILE - C1981019 (6)

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RULE 2 PERMITS 2.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND MINING ACTIVITIES — MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES This section of the application provides a complete and accurate description of the environmental resources that may be affected by the surface mining activities to be conducted by Colowyo in the South Taylor/Lower Wilson permit revision area. This application also provides a description of the environmental resources for the life -of -mine operations area. 2.04.1— 2.04.2 Objectives and Responsibilities The following sections provide a complete and accurate description of the environmental resources that may be impacted by surface coal mining operations at the South Taylor Pit. The applicant and federal and state agencies have provided information required by this section. 2.04.3 Land Use Information Information regarding the existing mining areas is presented in the previously approved permit document. The pre -mine land use of the South Taylor/Lower Wilson area and adjacent lands were mapped. Land use for the permit and adjacent areas was digitized and is provided on Map 17. Natural color aerial photographs, printed at a scale of approximately 1:24,000 from photography taken in September 1997, were used to update the Land Use information in the previously -approved permit document. Air photo interpretation resulted in a few boundary changes for the crop and pasture land use types. The "surface mine" category was expanded to include all mining associated disturbance. Primary land use types identified in the permit area are rangeland and cropland. Present and potential production of these land uses according to the soil types which lie within them are discussed in Section 2.04.9 Soil Resource Information. Areas designated as "Existing Mine" on Map 17 include surface coal mine pits and mine facilities (e.g. maintenance shops, haulage routes, loadouts, offices, etc.) and areas that have been mined, backfilled, topsoiled, and revegetated. "Rangeland" includes sheep and cattle grazing. The croplands adjacent to the permit area have been traditionally cultivated for grass/alfalfa hay and winter wheat. According to the information provided in the previously approved permit document, winter wheat yields an average of 30 bushels/acre while irrigated hayland averages 3 tons/acre. Land conditions within areas designated as rangeland may be described as good to fair with continued improvement due to better land management techniques. Range Site Description and BLM estimates of forage production on an animal unit month basis for the vegetation communities identified in the South Taylor/Lower Wilson permit area are provided in Exhibit 9, Item 2 of Volume 2A of the existing permit document. No areas within the South Taylor/Lower Wilson permit revision area have been previously mined. The post -mine land use for the South Taylor/Lower Wilson permit revision area will be rangeland condition capable of supporting a diversity of wildlife. Alternative post -mine land uses may be proposed for suitable areas within the permit revision area as deemed necessary. South Taylor/Lower Wilson — Rule 2. Page 4 Revision Date: 4/7/17 Revision No.: RN -07