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occurred. Since no additional surface disturbance is anticipated, no <br />additional impacts should occur. Reclamation of the site will enhance <br />wildlife habitat in the area. <br />Based upon the available information, the Division finds, pursuant to Rule <br />2,07,6(2)(n), that the activities will not affect the continued existence of <br />endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse <br />modification of their critical habitat. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />XIV. Prime Farmland - Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6 and 4.25 <br />Information pertaining to prime farmland is presented in Section 2.04.12 of <br />the permit application. <br />The Division previously made a negative determination for the presence of <br />prime farmland within the permit area. The basis for this decision was that <br />there are no prime farmland mapping units (soils) within the permit area and <br />the land has not been historically used as cropland. <br />No new evidence has been submitted to alter this previous decision. <br />Information submitted in a new permit application fora nearby mine in Hay <br />Gulch (La Plata Coal Corporation, La Plata No. 1 Mine, permit application <br />C-87-072) included a letter from the Soil Conservation Service specifying the <br />soils in the area do not qualify as prime or unique farmland. Therefore, the <br />Division reaffirms a negative determination for the presence of prime farmland <br />within the permit area. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />XV. Operations Description - Rules 2.05.2, 2.05.3(2) and 4.01 <br />Information pertaining to the operations description is found in Sections <br />2.05.2 and 2.05.3 of the permit application. <br />Underground room and pillar operations are employed at the King Coal Mine. <br />The coal is mined in two continuous mining sections. After coal is removed <br />from the working face, both sections utilize shuttle cars to transport coal to <br />conveyors, which in turn transport the coal to the surface. The surface <br />operations associated with the underground mining operation consist of <br />crushing, stockpiling and loading coal. There are no wash plants or other <br />types of coal processing facilities at the site. Four types of coal are <br />stockpiled temporarily on the surface: lump, stoker, railroad, and mine run. <br />During the crushing of the coal, fines are generated. The fines are combined <br />with the mine run coal and sold. <br />Annual coal production is anticipated at 90,000 to 120,000 tons. Based on <br />current reserves and anticipated production, mining will cease at the King <br />Coal Mine in about ten years. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />_19_ <br />