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Land Use <br /> The most dominant land use, in terms of area, in and adjacent to the mine area is rangeland. <br /> Other adjacent land uses include irrigated and dryland cropland, residential areas, coal mining, <br /> electric power generation, oil production, and recreation. The post mining land use of the Yoast <br /> Mine permit area is primarily livestock grazing with a secondary use as wildlife habitat. <br /> Wildlife <br /> Wildlife baseline studies were conducted in 1993 and 1994. Wildlife observed included big <br /> game, upland birds, raptors, breeding birds(song birds), and small mammals. Details of the <br /> wildlife study are located in Attachment 11-1 of the PAP. The entire Yoast Mine permit area is <br /> classified as winter range for elk, and summer habitat for mule deer. <br /> Description of the Operation and Reclamation <br /> The coal was mined by surface mining methods, beginning in the northern section of the permit <br /> boundary, then progressed south in subsequent permit terms. The majority of the coal mined <br /> comprised the Wadge seam, the exception being the mining area where Wolf Creek Coal was <br /> also mined. The mine operated through 2006, averaging 730,000 tons per year for a total of 7.7 <br /> million tons of coal. <br /> Several drainages were reconstructed in the mined areas, as depicted on Exhibit 20-2 of the <br /> permit application package. Concentrated islands of seeded and transplanted shrubs were <br /> established on approximately five percent of the reclaimed area. Mining is complete and all <br /> surface facilities have been removed, areas regraded, topsoil redistributed, and revegetation <br /> accomplished. <br /> Findings of'the Colorado Division ofReclamation. Minim and Sa etys or the <br /> Yoast Mine <br /> Explanation of Findings <br /> Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2) of the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board <br /> for Coal Mining, and the approved state program, the Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br /> Safety or the Board must make specific written findings prior to issuance of a permit, permit <br /> renewal or permit revision. These findings are based on information made available to the <br /> Division that demonstrates that the applicant will be able to operate in compliance with the <br /> Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and the Regulations promulgated pursuant to <br /> the Act. <br /> The findings in the following sections required by Rule 2.07.6(2) are listed in accordance with <br /> that Rule. The findings and specific approvals required pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(m) are <br /> listed in accordance with Rule 4 and are organized under subject or discipline subtitles. <br /> This findings document is updated upon permit renewal, which occurs every five years for <br /> most mines. This is the renewal findings document for the Yoast Mine, which has a five year <br /> permit term. The following findings were reevaluated and updated as necessary to reflect <br /> changes that occurred during the past permit term. Any stipulations from the original permit <br /> and findings document or subsequent revisions that have been totally resolved to the <br /> 7 <br />