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Unsuitability Criterion No. 3, 0.75 miles (1$~acres) of Colorado State <br />Highway 133 is unsuitable for coal mining: .An exception to this criterion <br />• may be obtained as described in Appendix 1. <br />There is one right-of-way managed by the Forest Service; Forest <br />Service Special Use permit to Mountain Coal Company, issued 01/30/92, <br />permits spring developments and water transmission lines. The permit is <br />located in the northwestern portion of section 22, T.135., R.90W., 6th PM. <br />Transportation <br />The surface of the application area is accessed by the Colorado State <br />Highway 133 to the north and the Minnesota Creek Drainage to the south. <br />Access to the southern portion of the proposed lease tract would be <br />provided by the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek road and roads to Apache Rocks <br />and West Flatiron Mesa. <br />Coal is transported by underground conveyor to the loadout tipple on <br />fee lands. The loadout facility is served by the Denver and Rio Grande <br />Railroad. This spur is used solely for coal haulage. The line ends just <br />past the West Elk Mine and connects loadout facilities of several coal <br />mines along the route. In 1993, eleven 100-car trains hauled coal between <br />the mines in Paonia and Grand Junction every week. The trains haul coal <br />from the Bear Mine, West Elk Mine, Orchard Valley Mine and the Sanborn <br />Creek Mine. Coal cars are sided ac loadout facilities until [hey are <br />filled with coai. ' <br />• Climate and Air Quality <br />The climate can be described as having moderate summer and cold vin ter <br />temperatures and receiving a moderate amount of precipitation. Maeimum <br />summer temperatures generally do not exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit; winter <br />low temperatures are frequently less than 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Annual <br />precipitation is variable ranging from 7 to 25 inches. The town of Paonia <br />averages around 15 inches of precipitation annually. West winds <br />predominate, however, there is a noticeable diurnal wind pattern of upslope <br />during the day and downslope at night. <br />Air quality in the vicinity of the application lands is typical of <br />undeveloped regions in the western United States; ambient pollutant levels <br />are usually near or below the measurable limits. Notable exceptions in the <br />Delta County area include high, short-term concentrations of total <br />suspended particulates related co local winds, ozone, non-methane <br />hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, especially in communities. <br />Average visibility is about 54 miles with greatest visibility <br />occurring during spring and summer mont^s. This portion of the North Fork <br />of the Gunnison River has been designated as a Class II area. There are no <br />major stationary sources of air pollution in the immediate vicinity, nor is <br />the train and vehicular craf`ic along the North Fork of Lhe Gunnison River <br />of a magnitude so as to constitute a significant source of air pollution. <br />Thee is coal dust generated from existing mines. <br /> <br />12 <br />