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• <br />SECTION 2.04.10 <br />VEGETATION INFORMATION <br />NEW HORIZON 2 STUDY AREA, 1987 and 1999 <br />Introduction <br />Western Fuels Colorado, A Limited Liability Company (WFC) is renewing Permit No. C-81-008. WFC's New <br />Horizon 1 & 2 Mine is the old Peabody Coal Company Nucla & Nucla East Mine which operated under the <br />same permit. Peabody performed detailed vegetation studies at the New Horizon 1 & 2 mine areas (formerly <br />called the Nucla and Nucla East mine areas respectively). Rather than duplicate large quantities of vegetation <br />data, WFC refers the reader to the original Peabody permit application: Volume D -Tab 10. When a reference <br />is made to data sources in the Peabody documents, the word "Peabody" will immediately precede the <br />reference. <br />Vegetation baseline studies were conducted on properties associated with WFC's New Horizon 2 <br />mine as well as a larger study area (Map 2.04.10-1). These baseline studies were conducted during <br />the 1987 field season and primarily involved Peabody personnel. Preparation of a detailed species <br />• list and evaluations forthe potential occurrence of rare, threatened, or endangered plant species was <br />conducted by Dr. David Buckner of ESCO Associates, Inc. The approximately 618 acre study area <br />covers substantially more acreage than the proposed permit area in anticipation of future mine <br />expansion to the west. The study area is used for various types of agricultural production and <br />support, with irrigated hay, pasture, and crops providing the basis for this production. In 1999, <br />additional vegetation baseline studies were undertaken by Intermountain Resource Inventories Inc. <br />(IRI), Jim Irvine principal investigator. These studies verified and expanded upon studies conducted in <br />1987 and included land not previously survey in the original baseline vegetation study. Land studied in 1987 <br />and 1999 includes the Morgan Property south of BB Road. Land studied in 1999 includes the Johnson, Lloyd, <br />Benson, WFC, Guire and Martin Properties north of BB Road. <br />Study Area Description <br />Location. The study area is located in western Montrose County on the western edge of the town of Nucla, <br />Colorado. Major cities located in relation to Nucla are Montrose, 45 air miles east-northeast and Grand <br />• (REVISED 8/15/00) 2.04.10 - 1 <br />