GENERAL30783

• Permit No: C1981010
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 4/8/1988
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for PR2 & RN1
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

sets of responses, received by the Division on August 24 and September 1,
1987; and revised post-mining topography maps received on October 9, 1987. On
November 12, 1987 the Division sent Trapper additional adequacy comments based
on the August, September and October responses from Trapper, On December 11,
1987 the Division received Trapper's responses to the Division's November 12,
1987 letter. Additional comments and responses continued into April, 1988.
On June 25, 1987 the Division received an application from Trapper Mining,
Inc. for permit renewal of their existing permit. Since all issues which
might be raised during the permit renewal review are the same as those
reviewed for the permit revision, this findings document will be utilized for
both applications.
This findings document replaces in its entirety the document issued as part of
Trapper's Permit No. C-81-010 dated December 31, 1982. It also replaces the
amended findings document of August 17, 1987 issued as part of the proposed
decision for the approval of Trapper Mining, Inc. 's Permit Revision No. 1.
Detailed information about the review process for permit revisions and
renewals can be found within the Act and the Regulations of the Colorado Mined
Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. All Rules referred to in this
document are contained within those regulations. Detailed information about
the mining and proposed reclamation operation can be found in the permit and
permit revision applications on file with the Colorado tdined Land Reclamation
Division, 1313 Sherman Street, Roam 423, Denver, Colorado 80203.
Description of the Environment
The Trapper Mine is located on the northern slope of the Williams Fork
Mountains between approximately 6,500 and 7,500' elevation. The Yampa River
flows generally east to west to the north of the permit area, while the
Williams Fork River flows into the Yampa from the south, and is located south
and west of the permit area.
Land uses in the area consist of range]and, wildlife habitat, and
agriculture. Cattle and sheep are grazed in the Williams Fork Mountains and
on the toe-slopes of the mountains in the spring and fall. Dryland wheat is
cultivated in favorable areas on the colluvial tce-slopes of the Williams Fork
Mountains. Native hdy and same dryland wheat is cultivated on the soils of
the Yampa and Williams Fork River valleys. The area provides habitat and
migration routes for antelope, elk and mule deer. Raptors, several species of
game birds, and numerous smaller mammals are found in the Williams Fork
Mountains, and surrounding areas.
The Trapper Mine is located on the north-facing slope of the Williams Fork
Mountains. The crest of the Williams Fork Mountains forms a long ridge
running east-west at elevations between 7,400 and 7,700 feet. The mine is
located on a near dip-slope, with the strata dipping slightly more than the
slope of the topography.
The bedrock that crops out in the vicinity of the mine is of Cretaceous age
and, in general, is part of either the Williams Fork Formation of the Mesa
Verde Group or of the conformably overlying Lewis Shale. Unconsolidated
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