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Vegetation, Wildlife and Land Use <br /> Six general vegetation types are found on the New Horizon Mine 2 area: irrigated pasture, <br /> irrigated hay land, irrigated cropland (small grains), swale/drainage, sagebrush/grass, and <br /> various miscellaneous types related to old farmsteads, abandoned orchards, and disturbed <br /> areas. The New Horizon 2 area is intensively used for agricultural. Irrigated agricultural <br /> land (pasture, hayland, and cropland) comprises 224.64 acres, or 67.6 percent of the total <br /> 332-acre permit area. The swale/drainage vegetation type accounts for 54.74 acres, or 16.48 <br /> percent of the total proposed permit area addition, while the upland area sagebrush/grass <br /> type covers 25.5 acres, or 7.68 percent. Roads and miscellaneous types account for the <br /> remainder of the land area, 27.18 acres, or 8.19 percent. <br /> The area surrounding the New Horizon Mine permit is used by a large variety of wildlife <br /> including coyotes, fox, mule deer, elk (in the winter) and numerous bird species. <br /> Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br /> In February 1993, Western Fuels of Colorado commenced surface mining at the Mine 2 <br /> area. The annual production is approximately 400,000 tons per year. At this time, active <br /> mining and reclamation activities are concurrent. Topsoil salvaging depths and plans are <br /> detailed in section 2.04.9 of the permit revision application.Actual topsoil recovery has been <br /> less than originally projected due to discrepancies found in the Peabody topsoil depth <br /> estimates. A mitigation plan was approved by the Division and implemented by the mine <br /> prior to this permit revision. <br /> When possible, topsoil is live hauled to active reclamation areas. However, this is not <br /> always possible and some topsoil will be stockpiled. Stockpiled topsoil will be protected <br /> from wind and water erosion by roughening and ditching around the pile, establishing an <br /> annual cover crop, or establishing a perennial grass cover, depending on the length of time <br /> a stockpile will be in place. <br /> Excavation is performed by dozers, trucks and shovel. Some excavation may be carried out <br /> by scrapers and dozers. The anticipated mining schedule for each area where mining will <br /> occur is graphically shown on Map 2.05.3-1. Overburden is removed by a shovel and trucks <br /> and/or scrapers after an area has been drilled and shot. An ANFO slurry is the primary <br /> agent used in the blast. All shots are monitored with seismographs located at structures <br /> nearest to the blast. Blasting schedules are published in the local newspaper, however, most <br /> blasting occurs mid-day early in the week. <br /> The primary coal seam to be recovered is the Lower Dakota seam; however, the Upper <br /> Dakota seam will be recovered if it is thick enough and of sufficient quality. Maximum <br /> overburden depth will approach 120 feet. Excavations will develop pits having a generally <br /> north-south orientation which progress westward. <br /> Mining began along the eastern subcrop of the New Horizon Mine 2 area and uses a panel <br /> mining method to develop the pits (see Map 2.05.3-1). The panels will vary in length and <br /> width according to conditions, but will average approximately 2400 feet long and 120 feet <br /> 10 <br />