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A third permit renewal was applied for by MINREC, Inc. on June 5, 1997 and was found to be complete on June 5, 1997. The Division made a decision to approve the pemut renewal on December 9, 1997. A fourth permit renewal application was received from MINREC, Inc., on May 20, 2002, and called complete on May 30, 2002. The decision to approve the permit renewal was made on December 9, 2002. Description of the Environment Site Description and Land Use -Rule 2.04.3 The Blue Ribbon Mine is located in the northeast portion of Delta County, Colorado, approximately two miles north of Juanita Junction in the Hubbazd Creek drainage. Juanita Junction is six miles northeast of Paonia along the old Colorado State Highway 133. The mine previously operated a track scale and coal storage facility adjacent to State Highway 133, approximately three miles northeast of Paonia. This facility was released from the permit area in March 1989 because the State Highway Department acquired the land on which the scale facility was located, to provide for the construction of an upgraded highway through the azea. The operator dismantled the truck scale facility and regraded the area according to the reclamation plan prior to release of this azea. Hubbazd Creek is a perennial tributary of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and provides both domestic and agricultural supplies of water. The confluence of Hubbazd Creek and the North Fork of the Gunnison River is located approximately two miles south and 500 feet below the mine. The North Fork of the Gunnison enters the main stem of the Gunnison River approximately 30 miles southwest of the Blue Ribbon Mine site. The watershed of Hubbard Creek is mountainous, ranging in elevation from 11,327 feet atop Crater Peak to 5,900 feet at the confluence of Hubbazd Creek with the North Fork of the Gunnison River. Slopes at the mine vary from 0 to 60 percent and elevation vanes from 6,300 feet at the southern contact of the permit azea and Hubbard Creek to 7,800 feet at the northeast corner of the pemrit azea. The mine portals were at an elevation of 6,470 feet. The general azea in which the Blue Ribbon Mine is located is chazacterized by steeply sloping mountains covered either with tall shrub vegetation, particularly oakbmsh and servicebeny, or stands of pinon and juniper trees. Drainages in the azea are lined with riparian vegetation communities along the stream banks. Some of the more level areas have been cleazed and support limited livestock grazing. However, for the most part, the surrounding land is undeveloped and is used primarily as wildlife habitat. Recreational activities such as big game hunting, trapping, fishing and off-road driving also occur in the general area.