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2. Description of the Environment (cont'd) The mine occurs within the lower montane c'_imax region. Three vegetation types occur vithin and adjacent to the permit area. A greasewood shrubland type occupies the flat tertian along the East Salt Creek drainage where soils are deep, veil drained and often very sodic and moderately saline. Shadscale shrubland borders the greasevood shrubland along the dry, steep, south facing slopes in the shallaver soils vhich are interspersed with rock outcrops. Jun- iper Woodland is found along the ridge tops and steep north and west facing slopes of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types are common to western Colorado and Utah. 3. Description of the Operations and Reclamation plan Most of the 7.7 acres to be disturbed by the surfce facilities have already _ been disturbed. The existing operation consists of the bench portal and face up developments and mine support trailers. A coal surge pile also exists at the site. The only planned future disturbance is the construction of a sedi- ment pond and topaoil stockpile vhich will occur after permit approval. Coal is mined underground in a down dip direction using room and pillar tech- niques. The mine workings have already progressed to a point approximately 1400 feet from the portal entries. The operation will produce approximately 123,000 tons of coal per yeaz with a possible acceleration to 256,000 tons for the second year. The total anticipated production for the permit term is ap- proximately 369,500 tons over a two or three year period. Mining during this term will aid Salt Creek Mining Company in determining the feasibility of further mining of coal beyond the permit term. The applicant will apply for a new permit when 369,500 tons have been mined. Coal i9 mined at the exposed face by a continuous miner. The mined coal is then shuttled to a conveyor within the sine which transports the coal to the bench at the portal entries. On the bench coal is crushed, stockpiled, and loaded onto highway trucks and transported to the loadout. The loadout is located near Loma, Colorado along a railroad siding. This fa- cility will be permitted under the permit issued for the Munger Canyon Hine and information pertaining to the loadout is included in the Hunger Canyon permit appieation. Reviev, approval and permitting of the facility by the Division will occur during the Hunger Canyon permitting process. \. Salt Creek Mining Company has also subnitted an application for a loadout facility near 14ack, Colorado. This facility viii be used vhen the mines reach full production. The Mack loadout proposal is currently under review by the Division. No topsoil vas stripped prior [o the development which has already occured at the mine. The development occurred prior to the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and prior to the topsoil salvage requirements of the Act. Construction of the sediment pond viii require stripping of topsoil. Topsoil will be salvaged from future disturbances to assist in reclamation of the existing disturbance after mining. ~i ,.