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-$- The climate within the area is semi-arid with an annual precipitation of 14.6 inches. Approximately 45 percent of this precipitation occurs during the growing season of April though September. Temperatures are generally extreme, ranging from 85o F in July to 3.6' in January. Two broadly classified soil complexes exist within the permit area. These are Typic Paleborolls - Borollic Camborthids and Argic Cryogorolls - Cryic Paleborrolls. All soils except for approximately three acres have already been disturbed by surface mining. However, prior to mining the Typic Paleborolls - Borollic Camborthids soils covered the disturbed area. They occur primarily on uplands and are formed in materials weathered in place from soft shale. These clayey soils are moderately deep to deep, well drained and usually contain less than 35 percent rock fragments. Permeability is slow, shrink-swell potential is high and potential frost action is moderate to high. These soils are used for rangeland, non-irrigated cropland, and irrigated hay and pastureland. Vegetation in the vicinity of the mine is characterized by four major communities: grassland, mountain shrub, big sagebrush, and cropland; and by two sub-types: aspen and mountain shrub-rock outcrop. Within the Foidel Creek Mine disturbed area the prominent vegetation type prior to disturbance was big sagebrush. This community is characteristic of lower slopes with relatively gentle topography. It is dominated by big sagebrush. Needle grass, sanberg bluegrass and western wheatgrass are the important grasses, while major forb species are mules ear dock, aster and annual fortis. Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area. The most predominant are elk, mule deer and grouse. Other wildlife species include: black bear, cougar, rabbit, coyote, bobcat, red fox, rodents, bats, skunks, waterfowl, amphibians and reptiles. Two golden eagle nests are located on sandstone cliffs adjacent to the disturbed area within the permit boundary for Permit No. 79-177. There is critical winter habitat for elk, an elk migration corridor and elk calving grounds. Sage grouse critical habitat is located outside of the disturbed area. Cultural and historic resources within the permit area include three historic sites and one prehistoric or protohistoric site. The historic sites are undistinguished homesteads with no important architectural features and which are not associated with persons important in history. The latter site is a rock art site. Land uses within the proposed permit area are cropland, pastureland, and rangeland. The surface disturbed area is a previously mined area of the energy No. 1 Mine. Prior to mining the land was classified as rangeland.