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-4- <br />Description of the Environment <br />The Mt. Harris loadout is located approximately 5 miles east of Hayden <br />Colorado at an elevation of 6,400 feet. The proposed permit area is 9.75 <br />acres and is located in an alluvial terrace adjacent to the Yampa River. The <br />permit area is located within the old Mt. Harris town site. Historically the <br />area has been used for industrial land uses, company town, powerplant, coal <br />stockpiling and railroad facilities. No ac'ual mining has occurred within the <br />permit area, only the processing of coal. <br />The loadout is located within the sand wash structural basin. In the <br />immediate area is the Tow Creek anticline which is heavily faulted. Major <br />rock units in the area are the Mancos shale and formations of the Mesaverde <br />group. <br />Within the vicinity of the loadout ground water exists in both bedrock and <br />alluvial aquifers. Major bedrock aquifers in the area are the Twentymile <br />Sandstone and Trout Creek Sandstone. The major alluvial aquifer in the area <br />is associated with the Yampa River. <br />Climate of the area is characteristic of semi-arid steppe regions, and can be <br />described as having large fluctuations in daily temperature, a moderate amount <br />of precipitation, low humidity, and a large number of clear days. Average <br />annual precipitation is 15 inches and is fairly evenly distributed throughout <br />the year. Mean annual temperature is 41.80 Fin Hayden, Colorado <br />approximately five miles west of the loadout. The growing season ranges from <br />60-70 days in length. <br />Soils in the area are fairly young forming in alluvium. They are moderately <br />well drained sandy clay looms. Gravel content in these soils is extremely <br />high with a very low erosion potential and water holding capacity. Soils <br />within the proposed permit area have already been disturbed. The main <br />vegetation community in the permit and surrounding area is what would be <br />classified as cottonwood galleries dominated by narrow leaf cottonwood with an <br />understory of shrubs and grasses. <br />Description of the Reclamation Plan <br />The area will be returned to an industrial land use. All facilities and <br />equipment will be removed from the site. Any remaining coal and waste rock <br />will also be removed. The area will be regraded and a berm established around <br />the perimeter to control runoff. The outslope of the berm will be vegetated. <br />