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-9- <br />The climate in the region is semi-arid. Prevailing winds at or near ground <br />level at the mine are dictated by the orientation of the deeply incised <br />Munger Canyon and occur from the north-northwest. The annual average <br />precipitation recorded at Fruita (21 miles southeast of Munger Canyon) is 8.8 <br />inches. Mean monthly temperatures recorded at Grand Junction range from 26.6 <br />to 78.7oF, and mean annual temperature is estimated at 52.7°F. <br />The soils mapped in the permit area consist of the Glendive, Havre, Nihill and <br />Rivra series which are well to excessively drained and have formed in alluvial <br />or colluvial sediments. Soils are deepest in the valley bottoms and become <br />shallower along the canyon sideslopes where they intersperse with bare rock. <br />All of the soils are rated good to fair as sources of topsoil for <br />reclamation. Limitations exist, however, for subsoils in the alluvium which <br />demonstrate strongly alkaline pH values. <br />The mine occurs within the lower montane climax region. Four distinct <br />vegetation types occur within and adjacent to the permit area. A greasewood <br />shrubland type occupies the flat terrain along the East Salt drainage where <br />big sagebrush shrubland occurs along drainages and sidedraws to East Salt <br />creek where soils are deep and well-drained. Shadscale shrubland borders the <br />greasewood shrubland along the dry, steeper, south-facing slopes in the <br />shallower soils which are interspersed with rock outcrops. Finally, Juniper <br />woodland is found along the ridgetops and steep north and west-facing slopes <br />of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types are common to <br />western Colorado and Utah. <br />The existing rail loadout is located in Loma, Colorado along a previously <br />disturbed loadout siding leased from the Denver and Rio Grande Western (D&RGW) <br />Railroad. <br />3. Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />The existing operation consists of the bench, portal and face-up developments, <br />mine support trailers and access road. A coal surgepile also exists at the <br />site. Due to the temporary cessation status of the mine, the additional <br />surface facilities proposed for construction during the initial 5 year permit <br />term have not yet been installed. <br />These facilities consist of two sediment ponds, topsoil stockpiles, an <br />underground development waste pile and a relocated access/haul road. Once the <br />mine re-activates, however, these facilities will be constructed along with <br />the central facilities area, coal processing waste embankment and <br />interconnecting haul road and conveyor system. <br />Coal is mined underground in an updip direction, using room and pillar <br />techniques. The mine workings have already progressed to a point <br />approximately 2500 feet from the portal entries into the lower split of the <br />Cameo seam. The operation will produce approximately 149,000 tons of coal in <br />the first year, with an acceleration to 875,000 tons in the fifth year. The <br />total anticipated production for the mine is approximately 61,183,000 tons <br />