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1997, which resolved all of the Division's concerns. This document is updated, with respect to changes in the operation plan caused by the cessation of mining, with the proposed decision to approve Permit Renewal No. 3. Description of the Environment The Bear Mines permit area lies within the drainage of the North Fork of the Gunnison River, which is tributary to the Colorado River system. The mined area consists of rugged topographic relief. Elevations in the area range from 6,000 feet at Somerset to 12,719 feet at the summit of Mt. Gunnison. The North Fork of the Gunnison River has cut a deep canyon through the area and separates high tablelands south of the river from the slopes of the Grand Mesa to the north. The narrow, steep-sided canyon in the vicinity of the Bear Mine widens into a broad alluvial valley in the vicinity of Paonia. The tableland to the south of the North Fork is deeply dissected by tributary streams, and is bounded on the south and east by the West Elk Mountain Range. Land Use -Rules 2.04.3. 2.05.5 and 4.16 Premining land use of the Bear No. 1 and 2 portal areas was undeveloped land used primarily as wildlife habitat. The Bear No. 1 portal area has been historically used for mining. The site was used for mining continuously from 1934 to 1982. The Bear No. 2 portal area was undisturbed until 1980 when an access road was constructed and portals were driven into the C-Seam. Bear Coal Company commenced reclamation of the Bear No. 1 and 2 areas in 1982. The Bear No. 3 portal and facilities area was undeveloped land prior to mining disturbance in 1934. The Edwards Mine was developed at [he site of the current Bear No. 3 portals in 1934. The Edwards Mine was operated by several operators until the mine went into bankruptcy in 1966. The current facilities area site involved limited residential use until the opening of the Bear No. 3 Mine in 1982. The area above the workings was, and is, wildlife habitat. Small areas designated as cropland are located along the North Fork of the Gunnison River at the mouth of Sylvester Gulch, immediately to the east of the Bear No. 1 portal area, and below the mouth of Gribble Gulch approximately 1'/z miles downstream of the town of Somerset. Post-mining land use information is located in Section 2.05.5 of the Bear No. 1 and 2 permit application. Post-mining land use information for the Bear No. 3 Mine is located in Section 2.05.5 and 4.16 and Map 8 of the permit revision application. The proposed post-mining land use for the Bear Mines is consistent with the pre-mining land use. Bear No. 1 and 2 have been backfilled and revegetated for use as undeveloped land and wildlife habitat. The facilities area of the Bear No. 3 Mine is to be reclaimed for wildlife habitat and limited residential use. Bear Coal Company has obtained permission from Anchor Coal Company to reclaim the Bear No. 3 Mine site for these post-mining land uses (Bear No. 3 Permit Revision, Exhibit 12). Reclamation responsibility for a large part of the Bear No. 1 facilities area has been transferred to Mountain Coal Company (MCC). Mountain Coal Company incorporated a large part of the Bear No. 1 and 2 facilities area into the MCC permit area as part of a 1984 permit revision. Bear Coal Company retained reclamation responsibility for a portion of the Bear No. 1 and No. 2 portal 4