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West Elk Mine • 2.04 Application for Permit for Surface or Underground Mining Activities 2.04.1 Objective The following is a complete description of the environmental resources at and proximate to West Elk Mine. 2.04.2 Responsibilities MCC is providing information required under this section to illustrate and describe the environmental resources that maybe affected by West Elk Mine. 2.04.3 General Requirements: Site Description and Land Use Information General Description: West Elk Mine Permit and Adjacent Area West Ells Mine permit azea is located primarily on the western edge of Gunnison County, with some extension into Delta County, Colorado, neaz the unincorporated town of Somerset. The site lies along the western flank of the West Elk Mountains within the drainage basin of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately 25 mm (10 inches) along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the lower portion of Minnesota Creek to as much as 60 mm (24 inches) on the flanks of Mount Gunnison. The majority of the precipitation falls as snow during the winter months, while the sparse summer precipitation consists of isolated thunderstorms. The majority of the azea is covered with tall (1-3 m) shrub vegetation, consisting primarily of Gambel oak (Quercus gambeli:~ and Saskatoon servicebeny (Amelanchier alnifolia). The area is currently used for grazing and forage by domestic livestock (cattle and sheep), and wildlife (deer and elk). Recreational activities such as big game hunting also occur here. The Somerset and Beaz Mines aze located just northwest of West Elk Mine. The West Elk Mine permit azea is drained by the North Fork of the Gunnison River, which is part of the Colorado River drainage basin. The northern one-third of the pemut area is drained by ephemeral streams directly into the North Fork of the Gunnison River, while Minnesota Creek serves as the main water course for the remainder of the area. Slopes range from 0 to 90 percent on the pemut area. Elevations on the property range from about 5,900 feet in the vicinity of Somerset in the valley of the North Fork to about 9,200 feet in the extreme southeast corner of the coal lease azea on the flanks of Mount Gunnison. However, most of the coal lease azea is between 7,000 and 8,000 feet in elevation. Major topographic expressions in the area aze: to the south (Mt. Lamborn - 11,396 feet, Coal Mountain - 11,695 feet, and the Chain • Mountains -approximately 10,000 feet); to the southeast (Mount Gunnison - 12,719 feet and the West Elk Mountains -approximately 10,000 to 13,000 feet); and to the west (Jumbo Mountain - 1.04-1 Revised Nauember 2004 PRIO