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bird encountered is the sage sparrow, although numerous other species of birds utilize this community for feed and cover. The riparian habitat along the Roaring Fork River, with vegetation dominated by trees such as cottonwoods and willows, is mostly surrounded by developed land. Bird species encountered here included the white-crowned sparrow, Lincoln sparrow, gray-headed junco, and mountain chickadees. Raptors may perch in the taller cottonwoods. Small mammals encountered include the long-tailed vole and an occasional northern pocket gopher. Although not observed, the western jumping mouse may occur. This community is used by deer as a loafmg area and for protection during winter months. Elk move into these azeas during severe winters. A nesting pair of bald eagles was identified on land west of the permit azea. During 1992, the Aspen Glen Company permitted a planned unit development (residential and golf course) on that portion of the loadout site that lay to the east of the Roaring Fork River. That land has subsequently been developed and released from the permit area. Land Use Historically, agricultural communities in the Roaring Fork Valley have produced cattle, sheep, and hay. Today, however, sheep production is limited. Cattle is now the only significant agricultural commodity exported from the valley. Other land uses in this region aze housing, recreation, timber production, and mining. Recreational uses aze seasonal and include skiing in winter; hunting in fall; and fishing, camping river rafting, and backpacking in summer. The Roaring Fork Drainage Basin has become a populaz location for vacation homes and condominiums, due in part to the skiing, recreation, and tourism that is populaz in the azea. The loadout area east of the Roaring Fork River was rezoned by Garfield County to allow a Planned Unit Development. The post-mining land use fora 4.1-acre area of the mine site has been designated as Developed Water Resources. Upland azeas on both sides of the Roaring Fork Valley comprise parts of the White River National Forest. Most of the valley bottoms and sideslopes are under private ownership. The Roaring Fork Valley is a natural geographic corridor between Glenwood Springs, where the Roazing Fork and Colorado Rivers meet, and the town of Aspen, which is directly west of the Continental Divide. Within this corridor, State Highway 82 connects Glenwood Springs and Aspen, which aze the county seats of Garfield and Pitkin Counties, respectively. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans The North Thompson Creek Mines aze in permanent cessation, and reclamation is neazly complete. Past mining operations had been approved as being in compliance with the Rules and Regulations. A summary of past mining operations, and the current status of the reclamation plan, is presented below. Further details regazding past mining operations and the reclamation plan can be found in Sections 4.3 and 4.4, respectively, in Volume I of the PAP. Coal was extracted from three seams in the North Thompson Creek Mines. The A seam (No. 1