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tor. Dan Matthews <br />October 29, 1981 <br />Stream Buffer Zones <br />Page No. 2 <br />Because of the compact nature of the proposed surface support <br />facilities for the Bear No. 3 Portals, the Bear Coal Company must <br />have a variance from the 100 foot stream buffer zone. Furthermore, <br />the Colorado Highway Department will be moving the North Fork of the <br />Gunnison River to the South, thus further inhibiting the amount of <br />room for the surface support facilities. <br />Although the Bear Coal Company must put surface support facilities <br />closer than 100 feet to the river, they will plan to construct an <br />embankment or diversion ditch and divert all runoff from the area <br />into a sedimentation pond. Likewise, vegetation between the diversion <br />ditch and the river will not be disturbed by Bear Coal Company although <br />some disturbance will occur as the channel is relocated by the Colorado <br />Division of Highways. Following the relocation of the North Fork of <br />the Gunnison River, the Colorado Division of Highways will seed and <br />plant riparian vegetation which will greatly reduce possible sedi- <br />ment additions to the relocated channel. <br />Vegetation Work <br />Because the area for support facilities and surface portal install- <br />ations have been previously disturbed by past mining operations, no <br />vegetation sampling will be required. <br />Vegetation Success Criteria <br />As mentioned above, the area has been previously disturbed by past <br />underground operations. Therefore, the success criteria for re- <br />vegetation of the surface facilities area will be accomplished by <br />determining the capability of the existing soil to support a variety <br />of post-mining vegetation. Bear Coal Company will work closely with <br />the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division on developing appropriate <br />workable vegetation success criteria in lieu of the usual reference <br />areas. <br />Haul and Access Roads <br />As we discussed, only one haul road will be used at the mine site. <br />This road will run from Highway 133 across the bridge over the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River into the surface facilities area. This <br />road will also be used as access for mine employees and visitors to <br />the mine. The only access road to be used at the mine will be a road <br />running from the proposed surface facilities site to the portal entries. <br />R~~ nom. . <br />