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Major vegetation communities within the proposed permit area, include aspen, <br />big sagebrush, low sagebrush, mountain shrub, pastureland and cropland. The <br />aspen community occurs on gently to moderately sloping topography at <br />elevations above 7,000 feet. Aspen is the most extensive vegetation type at <br />higher elevations of Eckman Park. The big sagebrush community occurs in <br />various locations throughout the proposed permit area but is most prevalent on <br />moderate to gently sloping topography at elevations between 7,000 and 7,600 <br />feet and is typically associated with moderately deep, well drained loams and <br />clay loams. The low sage type occurs at lower elevations and is generally <br />associated with shallow, silty soils. The mountain shrub type occurs <br />primarily along steep valley side slopes within the same elevational range as <br />aspen in the proposed permit area. Pastureland, primarily smooth brome <br />pasture, occurred in various locations throughout the permit area prior to <br />mining while winter wheat and alfalfa/grass croplands occurred along Foidel <br />Creek and in the vicinity of Mine 2, in the northern portion of the permit <br />area. Various meadow vegetation types occur in narrow belts along major <br />drainages in the permit area. A significant acreage of pre-law spoil ridges <br />which were leveled off on top and seeded to alfalfa, sweetclover, and various <br />grasses occurs in the vicinity of Mine 1. <br />Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area of the mine. Species of <br />primary interest include elk (both calving areas and winter range occur on the <br />permit area), mule deer, sage and sharptail grouse and various raptor species <br />(two golden eagle nests have been documented within the permit area). <br />Numerous other small game and non-game animals and migrating birds occur <br />within the permit area at various times of the year. <br />One historic site listed in the National Register of Historic Places, the <br />Foidel Canyon Schoolhouse, is located in the northeastern portion of the <br />permit area on Foidel Creek, in a location which will not be affected by <br />mining. <br />Pre-mine land uses in the permit and adjacent areas include pastureland, <br />rangeland and cropland. Cropland was generally limited to relatively gentle <br />slopes at lower elevations prevalent in the northern portion of the permit <br />area in the vicinity of Mine 2, as well as valley bottom land along Foidel <br />Creek and Fish Creek. Rangeland supporting both livestock grazing and <br />wildlife habitat was prevalent within Eckman Park, while pastureland was <br />scattered throughout the permit area. <br />Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />The Eckman Park Mine Complex consists of several adjacent mine areas operated <br />by Colorado Yampa Coal Company under permit C-81-071. The mining technique <br />employed by CYCC is dip slope area strip mining similar to other large surface <br />mining operations in Routt County. Draglines are used as the primary <br />overburden removal equipment. <br />Permitted areas include, Mine 1, Mine 2, and Eckman Park. Mine 2 is located <br />on a dip slope to the north of Foidel Creek. At Mine 2, the Fish Creek seam <br />was extracted. Mining was completed in 1980, with backfilling, topsoiling and <br />revegetation completed contemporaneously. <br />-8- <br />