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The permittee will not be required to reestablish a specific shrub density on the <br />remainder of the reclaimed area at the Beaz No. 1 and No. 2, or at the Bear No. <br />3. The fact that the total surface disturbance at the Bear mine is less than 30 <br />acres minimizes the importance of reestablishing shrubs for wildlife use. The <br />Mine No. 3 disturbance area is contained within an area previously disturbed by <br />mining and, as a result, the success criteria of 4.15.10 apply. The permittee is <br />not obligated [o meet a standard for woody plant density. <br />The most critical objective of reclamation at the site is to stabilize the surface, <br />which can best be achieved through the establishment of a predominately <br />herbaceous community, including both quick growing and long-lived perennial <br />species. Certain shrub species will be included in the broadcast seed mixture, <br />along with adapted grasses and fortis. <br />The data upon which the standards were based was collected by Mountain Coal <br />Company in the dry meadow vegetation type located approximately one-half mile <br />south of the Bear No. 1 and No. 2 portals. The type occurs primarily on the top <br />of the relatively level terraces to the south of the river. The meadow type was <br />created by clearing of the wet mixed shrub type for grazing. The dry meadow <br />data represented the most applicable available data for the disturbed areas at the <br />Bear mine, considering environmental conditions and the revegetation plan. SCS <br />production estimates for the Swale range site, which corresponds to the Breece <br />loam soil type along the North Fork, range from 1,500 pounds to 2,000 pounds <br />per acre. Potential vegetation is primarily cool season perennial grasses. <br />On the basis of available information, because Bear Coal Company is not <br />disturbing any previously undisturbed areas, the Division finds that the proposed <br />operation will not affect the continued existence of any threatened or endangered <br />species. <br />XII. Post-Mining Land Use <br />The Division approves apost-mining land use of undeveloped land for wildlife habitat, <br />with a minor end land use of limited residential use. <br />XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife, and Related Environmental Values <br />The Division of Wildlife previously indicated that the primary impacts from mining along <br />the North Fork of the Gunnison River would be increased traffic resulting in road kills <br />and disturbance to deer and elk migration, and emission of toxic substances into the river, <br />which degrades the North Fork of the Gunnison River fishery (Exhibit 10, Bear No. 3 <br />permit revision application). <br />28 <br />