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-5- On December 14, 1982 the Division sent the applicant a letter which identified permit deficiencies during the adequacy review. The applicant responded on January 31, 1983. A second adequacy letter was sent on February 25, 1983. The applicant responded on March 31, 983. Any remaining concerns are stipulated as conditions of this proposed decision. The permit revision application was not reviewed by the OShI. As stated in the attached letter, dated February 3, 1983, federal approval of the permit revision application is not necessary because of the following factors: a) the permit revision involves only private surface and private coal, b) mining proposed in the revision does not preclude the mining of any Federal coal, and c) mining proposed in the revision is consistent with the OSM's March 21, 1980 approval of the applicant's mine plan. Since the draft of the permit revision application, the former Colorado Yampa Coal Company changed its name to Colorado Yampa Leasing Company. Although this entity is still the permittee under Permit No. 79-177, that permit is in the process of being transferred to newly-formed Colorado Yampa Coal Company. Operations covered by this permit revision relating to underground mining operations, however, will be conducted by Twentymile Coal Company, a separate subsidiary of betty Oil Company. References in the permit and the findings document to "applicant", "operator" or Colorado Yampa Coal Company, insofar as they relate to underground mining operations, shall mean Twentymile Coal Company. Description of the Environment The proposed Foidel Creek Mine is located approximately fifteen miles southwest of Steamboat Springs, in Routt County, Colorado. The mine is approximately 7,000 feet above sea level. Generally, the topography consists of gently rolling hills. Flatter topography is evident in the valley of the major streams draining the area, Fish Creek and Foidel Creek. Several prominent cliffs have formed where massive sandstone units, such as the Twentymile Sandstone, outcrop. The proposed mine is located in the upper reaches of the Yampa River Basin. The permit revision area and adjacent areas are drained by Foidel Creek, an intermittent stream and Fish Creek, a perennial stream. Both streams flow northeast into Trout Creek, which flows into the Yampa River near Milner, Colorado. Three alluvial valley floors have been identified within and adjacent to the permit area. One is along Fish Creek, beginning several miles upstream of the proposed revision area down to the confluence with Trout Creek. The second area is downstream of the permit area on Foidel Creek, and the third area is located at the confluence of Foidel Creek and Middle Creek extending downstream to the Trout Creek drainage.