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• -7 • In transversing the permit area fmm east to west, the mountain shrub community begins to thin (in terms of density and cover) until it is replaced on the far west by a community of big sagebrush and grasses. L~scending from the ridge of the Williams Fozk mountains (proceeding northward), several changes in commu- nity composition are noted. At elevations above 7,200 feet, the mountain shrub community is characterized by Gambel's oak, which is dominant over serviceberry and chokecherry. Snowberry is the most conspicuous understory component, with an occasional big sagebrush, rubber rabbitbrush, or bitterbrush. With a decrease in elevation comes a corresponding decrease in oak dominance. Sagebrush, serv- iceberry and chokecherry are interspersed, while oak dominates only in west-facing slopes. Entering the lowest elevations, the :servideberry/chokecherry component diminishes, leaving a community dominated by sagebrush, rabbitbrush, and grasses. Due to the presence of many and varied habitat types, many types of fauna are found in and adjacent to the permit area. Mule deer are found in the mountain shrub community, sagebrush/grass community, and pinyon/juniper community (to the south of the permit area) during all seasons of the year. Elk use the permit area primarily in the fall, winter, and early spring. In the summer months, elk remain at higher elevations in the Williams Fork mountains to the east of the permit area. Blue grouse, sharptail grouse, and sage grouse are all resi- dents or occasional residents of the permit area. DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATIONS AND RECLAMATION PLAN Approximately 10,335 acres comprise the proposed permit area. Of this, 2,540 acres of disturbance will have occurred by the end of this permit term. During the years 1981-1985, approximately 810 acres will be disturbed and 870 acres reclaimed. The increased reclaimed acreage results from reclamation of areas of existing disturbance. Coal will be rerruved at a maximum rate of 2.7 million tons per year until the year 1990, when production will begin tapering off for the remaining Life of the mine (until 2013). The projected life of mine production of coal will be a maximum of 74 million tons. The projected life of mine from this date is thirty-two years. Coal will be rerroved at the Trapper Mine using area strip mining methods, by dragline. Mining will occur along strips parallel to the downhill dip of the coal seam; each pit being adjacent and parallel to the previous one. When more than one seam is recovered _in a_pit, partings are removed by shovel, dozer, or backhoe, if thin; or by dragline, if thick. There are currently three active pits at the Trapper Mine; the "A", or Ashmore Pit, the "D", or Derringer Pit; and the "E", or Enfield Pit. The D pit is the westernmost pit and the longest in length (4,500-6,000'). Mining in the D pit progresses toward the east. The E pit is the easternmost pit and is of intermediate length relative to the other twv pits. It is being mined from east to west and will eventually merge with the D pit. The Ashrrore pit is to the north of both the D and E pits. It is the shortest pit (700-340') and has the shortest cycle time. It is the most rapidly advancing pit of the three and is moving from west to east. It will continue progressing past and to the north of the E pit.