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c. Woody plant density is same as above. <br />d. Species diversity is same as above. <br />Loadout Facility <br />This facility will be reclaimed back to orchard lands, specifically to apples, peaches, and <br />some cherries. To comply with Rule 4.15.9, the operator has committed to maintaining a <br />record of fruit yields as a function of time noting climatic factors and other pertinent <br />variables. This information will eventually be used to establish a standard as allowed by <br />this regulation. <br />The operation is found to be in compliance with the requirement of this section. <br />XII. Post-mining Land Use -Rule 4.16 <br />The discussion of land use may be found in Volume 1 on pages I to 10 of Section 2.04.3, and <br />pages 80 to 83 of Section 2.05.5. Aland use appendix is located in Volume 9 along with Map <br />No. 9-l, Land Use Information Map. <br />The Division hereby approves the post-mining land uses of the operation. It was determined that <br />grazing for both livestock and wildlife for the Bowie No. 1 West Mine and the bench areas at the <br />Bowie No. l Mine, and orchazd use for the storage silos, truck dump, train loadout areas, and the <br />railroad spur meets the requirements of Rule 4.16 and 2.07.6(2)(1). <br />XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values -Rule 4.18 <br />The fish and wildlife resources sections of the application can be found on pages 56 to 87, <br />Section 2.04 of Volume 1, and in the Wildlife Appendix, Volume 9A. The Fish and Wildlife <br />Mitigation Plan can be found on pages 87 to 94, Section 2.05 of Volume 1. <br />The general area contains important winter range for both elk and deer, and over 10,000 hunter <br />days per year are spent in this area. Golden eagles have been noted near the mine site, but no <br />threatened or endangered wildlife species have been observed. The North Fork of the Gunnison <br />River contains twelve (12) species of fish, including three (3) species of game fish (rainbow trout, <br />brown trout, and northern pike). However, due to the poor production of benthic organisms and <br />poor habitat conditions, the North Fork is not stocked frequently. <br />Impacts to wildlife are minimized by prohibiting public use of trails when big game are <br />concentrated in the winter (December I to April 16), and by prohibiting the cutting of snags <br />except those within the actual disturbed area required for construction, thereby minimizing the <br />loss of perches and nesting trees for raptors, insectivorous birds, and cavity nesters. Power lines <br />and other transmission facilities are designed and constructed to protect raptors and other large <br />birds from electrocution. Construction activities (heavy equipment, helicopters, blasting etc.) are <br />prohibited within one-quarter mile of the golden eagle nest during the nesting period (March 1 to <br />July Q. <br />The construction of the west portal facilities disturbed a short stretch of East Roatcap Creek. <br />Carefully designed sediment control measures were used to protect the stream channel. The <br />operator has agreed to compensate for any impacts to riparian areas by improving adjacent azeas. <br />35 <br />