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-50- On the basis of available information, this Division finds that the proposed operation will not affect the continued existence of threatened or endangered species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats (2.07.6(2)(n)). XIII. PRIME FARMLAND (2.04.12, 2.06.6, 4.25) The Division has made a negative determination for the presence of prime farmlands within the proposed permit area. The decision was based on the evidence provided by the Soil Conservation Service that there are no prime farmland mapping units within the proposed permit area. XIY. OPERATIONS DESCRIPTION (2.05.2, 2.05.3(1), 2.05.3(2), 4.01 The operations plan for the Orchard Valley mine is presented on pages 2-79, Section 2.05 of the application. The information was sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this section. All concerns pertaining to the operations description have been resolved and the proposed operation is in compliance. XV. MINE FACILITIES, PONDS, IMPOUNDMENTS, DIVERSIONS. AND COAL 4.05 A. Coal Handling Structures All coal handling structures and support proposed permit area. All facilities and requirements of the regulations. facilities are located within the coal handling structures meet the Mine Facilities The Orchard Valley mine road system consists of one paved haul road leading from security post No. 1 at the turn-off from the Steven's Gulch road to the crushing and screening bench; an access road leading from the crushing and screening bench up to the warehouse area, portal bench and fan bench, and two lower access roads which lead to the existing waste disposal pile and sedimentation ponds 1-4. No additional surface facilities are proposed for the permit revision area. The mine site haul road and access roads were constructed prior to the enactment of SMCRA and the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining, and at that time the haul and access road embankments and road cuts were not constructed according to the specifications set forth in Rule 4.03. Alternative specifications may be authorized by the Division if the applicant can demonstrate through appropriate geotechnical analysis that the existing road embankments have a minimum safety factor of 1.25, and that the road cuts have a minimum safety factor of 1.5 or that a lessor safety factor will not result in significant environmental harm or harm to the public health or safety (4.03.1(3)(c~)(i) and (3)(c)(x), and 4.03.2(3)(c)(i) and (3 )(c)(ix)).