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-8- The climate in the region is semi-arid. Prevailing winds at or near ground Level at the mine are dictated by the orientation of the deeply incised Munger Canyon and occur from the north-northeast. The annual average precipitation recorded at Fruita (21 miles southeast of Munger Canyon) is 8.8 inches. Mean monthly temperatures recorded at Grand Junction range from 26,6 to 78.7oF, and mean annual temperature is estimated at 52.7°F. The soils mapped in the permit area consist of the Glendive, Havre, Nihill and Rivra series which are well to excessively drained and have formed in alluvial or colluvial sediments. Soils are deepest in the valley bottoms and becorr~ shallower along the canyon sideslopes where they intersperse with bare rock. All of the soils are rated good to fair as sources of topsoil for reclamation. Limitations exist, however, for subsoils in the alluvium which demonstrate strongly alkaline pH values. The mine occurs within the lower montane climax region. Four distinct vegetation types occur within and adjacent to the permit area. A greasewood shrubland type occupies the flat terrain along the East Salt drainage where soils are deep, well-drained and often very sodic and moderately saline. A big sagebrush shrubland occurs along drainages and sidedraws to East Salt Creek where soils are deep and well-drained. Shadscale shrubland borders the grease- wood shrubland along the dry, steeper, south-facing slopes in the shallower soils which are interspersed with rock outcrops. Finally, Juniper woodland is found along the ridgetops and steep north and west-Facing slopes of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types are common to western Colorado and Utah. The loadout is located in Loma, Colorado along a previously disturbed loadout siding leased from the Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGw) Railroad. The total disturbed area consists of 5.56 acres. 3, Inscription of the Operations and Reclamation Plan Much of the 35 acres of total planned disturbance for the surface facilities has already been disturbed. The existing operation consists of the bench, portal and face-up developments and mine support trailers. A coal surgepile also exists at the site. The only planned future disturbances consist of two sediment ponds and topsoil stockpiles, a waste disposal pile and a relocated road, aII of which will be constructed after permit approval. Coal is mined underground in an updip direction, using room and pillar techniques. The mine workings have already progressed to a point approximately 2500 feet from the portal en tires into the lower split of the Cameo seam. The operation will produce approximately 199,000 tons of coal in the first year, with an acceleration to 847,000 tons in the fifth year. The total anticipated pro- duction for thF mine is approximately 61,183,000 tons over a thirty-year period. The mining operations for this first five-year permit term will consist of the development of access ways through lease blocks C-0125515 and C-0125516 in both the Cameo and Upper Carbonera seams. The Upper Carbonera seam will be accessed by ramps driven up from the Cameo workings. The total area to be permitted, including the portions of these leases which will be developed, is 775.57 acres.