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Vegetation in the vicinity of the mine is chazacterized as piiion-juniper, sagebrush, mountain <br />shrub, and irrigated cropland. <br />Wildlife <br />Big game species such as mule deer and elk as well as smaller mammals such as raccoons, <br />rabbits and coyotes are common to the mine site. Less common are black bear and <br />mountain lion. Waterfowl and game birds are abundant due to the proximity of riparian <br />habitat near the Colorado River. Red tailed hawks have been observed as have the Kestrel <br />and the Cooper hawk. No eagles have been recorded as nesting in the area. Five species <br />of reptiles and twenty-seven species of fish have been reported in this azea. Details <br />regarding baseline wildlife information are located in Section 3.7 of the permit application <br />package. <br />An endangered species assessment was made and the findings verified that the mine would <br />not impact any endangered species nor affect a potential habitat for same. <br />Land Use <br />Current land use on and adjacent to the permit area includes grazing, cropland, developed <br />water resources, residential and previous mining activities. Land use classification is <br />designated agricultural/residential/rural with federal lands designated as open space. <br />The approved post-mining land uses include grazing, wildlife habitat, and cropland. <br />Descr~tion of the Opgration and Reclamation Plans <br />The intended operation of the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine was designed as a hydraulic mining <br />process within the Wheeler coal seam. However, this process was never implemented. <br />Entries within the coal seam were designed to move upslope so that gravity would have <br />caused the slurry of coal and water to flow from the mining section to the portal. However, <br />mine entries into the Grand Hogback were only driven to a distance of 500 feet; the coal <br />seem was never reached, and hydraulic mining never began. <br />The present permit term of the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine will involve an operations plan <br />focusing specifically on final reclamation processes of the 35-acre surface disturbance. A <br />total of 35 acres were reclaimed and in 1995 Phase I bond release was approved. This bond <br />release was based on findings that backfilling and grading of the site were completed in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan. <br />Reclamation for the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine involved sealing, backfilling, and regrading the <br />portal areas to blend in with the pre-existing topography. A concrete wall section was built <br />across the portals which was then covered by 25 feet of backfill. Further, disturbed areas <br />were topsoiled and seeded in compliance with final reclamation specifications. <br />Tasks that remain to be completed for the Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine include the removal of <br />Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine 7 Permit Renewal No. 3 <br />