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<br />IV. Electronic Monitoring System. State-of-the-art system monitors <br />virtually all aspects of production. System is able to control all <br />key operations and can pinpoint system breakdowns. <br />Reclamation <br />i. Operator has completed extensive reclamation work on several large <br />areas disturbed during construction (1981-1983). Reveaetation <br />efforts have been successful for the most part despite the arid <br />climate and poor soils (8" MAP Zone). <br />ii. Operator initiated a revegetation test plot program on an extremely <br />harsh site at the mine (high SAR soils, steep slopes, south aspect) <br />to evaluate different plant species and mulching methods. Study is <br />on-going. <br />iii Ferruginous Hawk Nesting Study. Operator continues to be involved <br />in an 8-year study begun 5 years ago in cooperation with the USFS, <br />BLM, CDOW, and the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. The <br />purpose of the study which is principally funded by Western Fuels <br />is to: 1) Determine what, if any impacts the railroad construction <br />and operation will have on nesting ferruginous hawks; 2) to <br />mitigate impacts by experimenting with nest relocation, enhancing <br />habitat and implementing activity restrictions; and 3) to gather <br />long term information on the breeding biology and ecology of this <br />species. <br />IV. Western Fuels has continued to maintain and study an American <br />Kestrel nest box constructed in the Spring of 1985. The company, <br />acting on their own, constructed the nest box after discovering an <br />active nest inside a piece of heavy equipment parked at the load <br />out facility. The operator reports that the adults returned to the <br />nest box in the Spring of 1986 and 1987. This study is ongoing and <br />may be expanded this spring. <br />Permitting <br />The personnel involved in permitting and on-the-ground compliance <br />have been and continue to be exemplary in their efforts to meet <br />regulatory requirements. All reports and revisions are well <br />thought out, detailed, and often meet adequacy requirements in the <br />initial submittal. Permitting personnel are very cooperative and <br />submit required information in a timely and efficient manner. <br />TDG/sa <br />6041 F <br />-2- <br />