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The major formation in the area is the Mesaverde Group which overlies the <br />Mancos Shale. The Mesaverde is composed of three major units (in ascending <br />order): Point Lookout Sandstone, Menefee Formation, and Cliffhouse Sandstone. <br />The coal seam to be mined occurs in the Menefee. This formation is composed <br />of interbedded sandstone, shale, carbonaceous shale, and coal. The proposed <br />Blue Flame operation will remove one coal seam (known as the "Pueblo" coal <br />seam) in the Menefee during the course of this permit term. <br />Ground water occurs in the Hay Gulch alluvium adjacent to the mine site. The <br />alluvium in Hay Gulch is nearly saturated year round. <br />Natural surface water flows occur in small tributary canyons to Hay Gulch. <br />Those small drainages flow only in response to snowmelt and heavy <br />precipitation. There are two surface water diversions near the mine site: the <br />Hay Gulch Ditch located parallel to La Plata County Road 720, across the gulch <br />from the Blue Flame Coal Mine; and, the Huntington Ditch located near the <br />ridge crest separating Hay and Pine Gulches south of the Blue Flame Coal Mine. <br />The climatic regime is c]assified as semi-arid characterized by hot summers, <br />cold winters, and limited precipitation each year. The average annual <br />temperature is 42°F with average monthly temperature extremes of 23°F to <br />64°F. The average monthly precipitation ranges from 0.9" to 2.1" with an <br />average annual precipitation of 18.8". The growing season in the area varies <br />depending upon elevation and exposure with a maximum of approximately 96 <br />frost-free days. <br />Soils found within the permit area vary depending upon slope and topographic <br />position. There are two soil mapping units found in the permit area: Zau <br />stony loam and Big Blue clay loam. The Zau stony loam is found on the steeper <br />aspects whereas the Big Blue clay loam is located on the less steep areas of <br />the permit area. htost of the area proposed to be disturbed by surface coal <br />mining operations was initially disturbed over thirty (30) years aao with no <br />attempt made to salvage the topsoil medium. The oermittee will salvage <br />topsoil in any new areas disturbed by this proposed operation. <br />Vegetation is non-existent on the bench and access roads due to past mining <br />disturbances. Over the remainder of the permit and affected area, two <br />vegetation types predominate based on slope and aspect: mountain shrub and <br />introduced pasture. The mountain shrub vegetation type is dominated by <br />Gambles oak; whereas, smooth brome dominates the valley-bottom introduced <br />pasture. <br />The Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />The proposed Blue Flame Coal Mine is an underground mininc operation that will <br />utilize conventional room-and-pillar methods. Both the mineral and surface <br />land are under private ownership. The coal in the pe rnit area is owned by <br />Blue Flame Loal !dining Lompany (specifically, Fidel and Theresa Lobato); <br />whereas, the surface land is owned by two different entities: Ute Mountain Ute <br />Indian Tribe and Jack Wiltse. <br />_e_ <br />