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<br />brush grassland communities form an intertwined mosaic on the predominantly <br />western and southern exposures while the aspen community predominates in mesic <br />sites within swales and north and east exposures. <br />Wildlife <br />Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area of the mine site. <br />Predominant big game species are Elk and Mule Deer. Common raptors include <br />Golden Eagle, Red-tailed Hawk, Great Horned Owl, Harrier, and American Kestrel. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The Edna Strip Mine is a surface mine utilizing area strip methods. During <br />this permit term, mining and reclamation will occur in the West Ridge and <br />Moffat Areas. <br />Coal will be removed in the final pit of the West Ridge Area in late 1992, <br />after which the pit will be graded, topsoiled and seeded. Previously mined <br />and reclaimed portions of the West Ridge Area will undergo a hydrologic <br />reconstruction. The reconstruction involves the installation of terraces and <br />check dams in an effort to control surface water runoff. The West Ridge <br />project is scheduled for completion in 1995. <br />Mining of the Moffat Area will continue through this permit term. Reserves in <br />the Moffat Area will likely support mining through 2010. Mining in the area <br />is progressing northward, with a projected production rate of up to 500,000 <br />tons of coal per year. <br />The mining process includes clearing of vegetation, topsoil removal, <br />overburden blasting and removal, and coal blasting and removal. Reclamation <br />is contemporaneous with mining, and includes backfilling, grading, topsoil <br />distribution, and vegetation establishment. <br />Vegetation is cleared utilizing a rotoclear system designed to incorporate <br />plant material and seed within the topsoil. Topsoil is removed well in <br />advance of mining operations by scraper equipment, and is then stockpiled or <br />redistributed when possible. Overburden is blasted, removed, and spoiled into <br />the previous pit by dragline. Coal is ripped or shot, removed by loader, and <br />trucked to a conveyor system. The coal is conveyed to a crushing unit, <br />crushed, and transported off site by rail. Coal is not processed on site. <br />Spoiled overburden is graded to approximate original contour by bulldozers. <br />All surface facilities will be removed, except as approved. Topsoil is <br />redistributed by scrapers (nine inches at West Ridge, 11 inches at Moffat) and <br />scarified. A cover crop is sown, followed by the approved reclamation seed <br />mixture. On afield trial basis, seeding in the Moffat Area will be limited <br />to 50 percent of topsoil replacement areas. The operator anticipates that the <br />redistribution of live handled rotocleared topsoil augmented by partial <br />seeding will preclude the need for two or more seed mixtures to achieve <br />diversity standards. Revegetation success will be determined by comparison to <br />a reference area. <br />Impacts to surface and groundwater are mitigated and monitored. Surface <br />runoff from disturbed areas is channeled to eight sedimentation ponds located <br />