2007-02-13_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007

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Reservoirs and stock ponds also occur within or neaz the permit area. Minnesota Reservoir, on the Dry Fork of Minnesota Creek, is centrally located within the coal permit area. Beaver Reservoir on the East Fork of Minnesota Creek is located neaz the southwestern boundary of the coal lease azea. In addition to the storage reservoirs in the area of the West Elk Mine, a total of 61 stock water impoundments have been identified in or adjacent to the permit azea, as of 2006. Map 37 of the permit document shows the locations of the known stock water ponds. These ponds generally do not represent adjudicated water rights or perennial flows. Within the Gunnison National Forest, the ponds aze managed for seasonal use by the U.S. Forest Service. There aze estimated to be approximately 10 acres of wetlands (as defined by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) in the permit azea. Most of the wetlands are found in drainage channels, although there are small, isolated wetlands on the hillsides where springs and seeps occasionally emerge as a result of landslides/sumps. Climatological Information -Rules 2.04.8 Information regarding climate characteristics can be found in Section 2.04.3 and 2.04.8 of West Elk's permit application. The mine site lies within the North Fork valley neaz Somerset, Colorado. At the mine site, the valley is narrow and steep sided and follows a general east-west orientation. Considerable topographic variation across the mine site, and west central Colorado in general, results in marked fluctuation in seasonal and average precipitation and temperature values for the entire azea. The mountains of the Continental Divide provide an effective barrier to the movement of moisture-laden air that reaches the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains from the Gulf of Mexico. Under this influence, two basic types of climate, semi-and and undifferentiated highlands, aze chazacteristic of the genera] area where the mine is situated. Temperatures can range below freezing in the winter, and yet in the summer, with the exception of higher elevations, can be extremely warm. The precipitation that does fall, originates from the Pacific Ocean weather systems, and most frequently occurs in the winter. Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately ten inches along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the lower portion of Minnesota Creek to as much as 24 inches on the flanks of Mount Gunnison. The majority of precipitation falls as snow during the winter months, while the sparse summer precipitation consists of isolated thunderstorms. Soils -Rule 2.04.9 Soil Resource Information can be found in Section 2.04.9 in the permit document. More specific information relating to soil mapping units can be found in Exhibit 27, Exhibit 28, Exhibit 29, Exhibit 30, and on Maps 40 and 41. 31