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-5- <br />The principal sources of ground water in the area are localized sandstones <br />within shaly formations. Ground water is present within the Coalmont <br />Formation, primarily in the sandstone between the Hoyle and Sudduth seams. <br />Ground water flow is from southeast to northwest ana is affected by local <br />fault patterns. The outcrop zone of the Coalmont formation within the permit <br />area acts as a recharge area for the ground water sources. <br />Mann Draw is located at the northwest corner of the permit area. Mann Draw is <br />an ephemeral drainage which contains alluvial ground water and flows largely <br />in response to snowmelt and localized precipitation events. Mann Draw is <br />tributary to the Canadian River, 1.7 miles northeast of the site. <br />The climate of the region is characteristic of the high intermountain parks. <br />Winds are predominantly westerly and mean annual precipitation is 10 inches. <br />Mean temperatures fluctuate between 15oF and 78oF. The average growing <br />season is 102 days long. The majority of precipitation occurs during the <br />months of play through September and is contained in locally isolated <br />thunderstorms. <br />The soils within the permit area are highly variable in depth and quality. <br />Soils mapped in swales and north-facing slopes are generally deep and <br />well-drained sandy loams, neutral to sliyhtly alkaline, with moderate amounts <br />of oryanic matter. Several areas of saline and/or sodic topsoil were located <br />in the permit area. These saline ana sodic soils are unsuitable for <br />reclamation. <br />The site is located in the intermountain park climax region. Two vegetation <br />types occur within the site area; a dry yrassland community, and a big <br />sagebrush shrub community. The dry grassland type occurs on south-facing <br />slopes and within swales. Dominant life forms are cool season grasses and low <br />shrubs. The big sagebrush community occurs on a variety of exposures and soil <br />types. Dominant life forms are shrubs and semi-shrubs. Vegetation cover <br />ranges from 9% (grassland) to 30% (biy sagebrush shrubland), while production <br />ranges from 127 lb/acre (yrassland) to 950 lb/acre {big sagebrush shruoland). <br />Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />Of the 173 acres permitted, 123 acres are to be disturbed. Almost all of this <br />disturbance has already occurred. Approximately 5 acres have been bacKfilled <br />and graded and will be permanently reclaimed in the fall of 1982. The <br />operation will mine approximately 100,000 tons of coal per year from two seams <br />and the expected life of the mine is 10 years. The total production expected <br />for the life of the mine is 1.5 million tons. <br />Coal is mined using loaders and scrapers in an open pit, removing one seam of <br />coal at a time. Overburden will be removed by bulldozers and scrapers and <br />stockpiled. Blasting is not anticipated. <br />