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Wildlife use of the permit area is largely incidental, and though sane use of <br />the agricultural land by wildlife does occur, particularly during winter, it <br />is not critical habitat for any species. The North fork of the Gunnison from <br />Somerset downstream to the confluence with the main stem of the Gunnison is <br />not considered to be an important fishery, as rough fish make up a significant <br />portion of the fish population. <br />Adjacent to the loadout site, across Highwdy 133, is the site of the Bowie <br />Mine. This underground coal mine has been inactive for many years. Numerous <br />other old underground mines exist north and east of the loadout. Currently, <br />several permitted underground coal mines are located in the North Fork Valley <br />as well. A few of these active mines provide Terror Creek loadout with the <br />run of mine coal which is then prepared and sold by Terror Creek Company. <br />Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />Facilities at the Terror Creek loadout consist of a truck scale, raw, crushed, <br />and sorted coal stockpiles, crushing and screening facilities, a train loadout <br />facility, and an office, shop, bathhouse, and storage facilities. The <br />anticipated annual coal tonnage to be handled is 500,000 tons. <br />Drainage and sedimentation control consists of a diversion ditch to direct <br />undisturbed irrigation drainage and storm runoff around the site, a berm to <br />prevent spillage of coal over the bench, and a sediment pond to retain <br />disturbed drainage and allow far NPDES compliance prior to discharge. <br />Crushing, conveying and loadout operations will be equipped with a water spray <br />system to control dust. A chemical suppressant is used on the unpaved yard <br />area. Interim revegetation of road cuts, berms, and the topsoil stockpiles <br />will further minimize wind and water erosion. <br />Raw coal from haulage trucks or from the raw coal stockpile is dumped into an <br />enclosed, underground feeder. The coal is then conveyed to appropriate <br />screens for size separation and crushed if necessary. The product coal is <br />then either loaded directly into rail cars or placed in an appropriate <br />stockpile for later loading. Product coal includes lump, stoker, and minus <br />1/4 inch. <br />Final reclamation will entail site grading to restore the approximate original <br />contour, topsoil replacement, and seeding with adapted pasture grasses. <br />Measures will be taken to insure that the water holding capacity and drainage <br />characteristics of the reclaimed slope are comparable to pre~nining conditions. <br />-5- <br />