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-B- Because of the difficulty in resolving these problems, the applicant submitted a "dry mine plan" in December, 1982, which was essentially a reduction in scope of the original mine plan. This plan proposes mining only in those portions of the coal seams in the mining area that are dry and establishing a 50U foot buffer zone around the Maitland Arroyo and its unnamed tributary. The dry mine plan will eliminate the need for treatment and discharye of mine water and augmentation for water users. The Duffer zone will prevent any mining activities from having an impact on the surface drainages, therefore allowing baseline data to be gathered for the undisturbed drainages during the first year of mining. No mining activities are planned within 500 feet of the Gordon Arroyo, therefore, the establishment of a buffer zone is not required. The new dry mine plan has replaced the original plan for mining through flooded workings and coal seams. The Division has reviewed the revised mine plan and has made all the necessary findings to propose permit approval. This approval is only for the mining proposed under the dry mine plan. Any activity oeyond the scope of the dry mine plan must be approved in advance by the Division through the appropriate revision process. Description of the Environment The proposed mine site is within the Walsenbur9 Coal Field which is located on the northeastern edge of the Raton Structural Basin. Land use in the area in the past has been industrial (underground coal mining). Since 1974, however, the land use has been yrazing. Cattle, sheep, or horses graze during all parts of the year. Wildlife populations within the area are restricted due to extensive disturbance from past mining activities, deteriorated condition of vegetation due to overyrazing, and the lack of a reliable water supply. The general area may be within the migratory route of Peregrine Falcons. A few other species of small mammals and birds may inhabit the site. Structurally, the area is underlain by the Poison Canyon, Raton, and Vennejo formations which dip two to five degrees to the west-southwest. Coal to be mined by the operation is in the Vermejo Formation. A total of five seams will be mined. These seams are the Robinson, the Pryor, the Walsen, the Lennox, and the Cameron. These seams lie within a sequence of sedimentary rocks consisting of sandstones, siltstones, shales, and carbonaceous and silty shales. Underlying the Uermejo formation is the Trinidad Sandstone which is an aquifer of significant regional extent. However, numerous old mine workings have had a serious affect on ground water in the mine area. Therefore almost no water contained in the aquifer is used. The mine is located in a recharge area for the Trinidad Sandstone.