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-3- SUhA1ARY The Review Process, Description of the Environment and Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan The Review Process H-G Coal Company is applying for a permit under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act to mine coal at the Hayden Gulch mine. The mine is located in Routt county, Colorado approximately 10 miles south of Hayden along county highway 53 in sections 30 and 31 of TSN, R88W. The loadout for the mine is situated approximately two miles southeast of Hayden in parts of sections 10, 14, 15, 22 and 23 of T6N, RSSW. The Hayden Gulch mine has been in existence since January, 1978 and is currently operating under a permit (number 77-99) issued on January 20, 1978 by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division (the Division). H-G Coal Company submitted an application for a new permit on December 16, 1980, pursuant to section 34-33-109 of the Act. Since that time the application has been under review by the Division to determine compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. On March 30, 1981, the Division sent a letter to H-G Coal Company which identified deficiencies in the application which were noted during the pre- liminary adequacy review. Resolution of these deficiencies, was required in order for the Division to make determinations of compliance. H-G Coal Company responded to the comments in a meeting at the Mined Land Reclamation Division on April 23, 1981. 'The responses to the letter and the meeting were submitted in part to the Division and incorporated into the permit volumes on May 28, 1981. Further responses were submitted as they were completed. On July 12, 1981, the Division sent H-G Coal Company another letter identifying concerns which had not yet been adequately resolved. These remaining problems were addressed by H-G Coal Company shortly thereafter. Description of the Environment The mine site is located in an upland area at an elevation of approximately 7600 feet. Land use in this area consists of grazing and wildlife habitat. Several species of birds and large and small mammals were noted in the area during a wildlife survey. Cattle are grazed in the area from May until October. The mine is situated within the Williams Fork mountains which lie at the southern edge of the Wyoming Basin physiographic province. Structurally, the area is underlain by the southwestern limb of the northwest plunging Watering Trough Syncline, producing dips in the local strata of 4 to 8 degrees northeast. Although faults have been identified in the area, none have been located within the permit boundaries.