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and drainages and is dominated by Gambel's oak. The pinon-juniper community occurs on higher areas and in locations with shallow soils. In addition to pinon pine and Utah juniper, other common shrubs include Utah serviceberry, Gambel's oak, true mountain mahogany, cliff Fendlerbush and squawapple. Understory plants are relatively spazse. Dominant shrubs in the old field community are rabbitbrush, broom snakeweed, big sagebrush and true mountain mahogany. The dominant grasses are cheatgrass and a wheatgrass hybrid. A rare and dangered species survey was conducted in 1983, and no endangered species were found to exist in the permit area. Additional information on the vegetation in and around the permit ama can be found in appendix 4-6 of the permit document. Soils The soils within the permit area consist of shallow to very deep clays and clay loams which are suitable as a plant growth medium. The largest soils quantities will consist of a Falfa clay loam and some Zyme-Rock outcrop complex. The Ustollic Haplargrids Series can be salvaged, however, it occurs sporadically in pockets of sandstone and is sandy, gravelly, and cobbly. Some Ustic torriorthents soils exist but only in depths of 3 inches or less and will be diluted with broken sandstone and therefore cannot be reliably stripped. Wildlife and Land Use There has been no grazing on the site since 1979. The current ]and uses, which have been revised since the original permit was issued, are dryland wheat farming, recreational, residential, comercial and industrial, and wildlife use. The Colorado Division of Wildlife considers the pemut area to be a part of the region's critical winter range for deer and elk. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plan Operations The proposed permit azea is located approximately 2 1/2 miles southeast of Durango, Colorado, with access from U.S. Highway 550-160 on an existing haul road which was constructed by Pueblo Coal Company. The mine will be a surface mine with private mineral and surface ownership. The proposed permit azea is 222.95 acres and includes 34.5 acres for a gravel pit operation. The life of mine is estimated at five years. The planned disturbance areas include the above mentioned gravel pit, 73.5 acres for the pit and fill area, and 30.75 acres for the multiple use gravel and coal equipment and storage facilities area. The production method of the coal operations will be atruck-and-shovel/loader operation augmented by scrapers and dozers as needed. Facilities include: mobile office and scale house, portable scales, mobile change and shower facility, portable explosive storage and detonator vans, fresh water well s