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Wildlife <br />Canyon walls in the permit area provide potential raptor nesting sites, and ptre~'~rine falcon nesting has been <br />documented in the permit,azea in recent years. The river is used by waterfowl during migration, wintering and <br />nesting seasons. Western portions of the permit area provide winter range for m~rle deer, and overlap a portion <br />of a federally designated wild horse management area. ~'' <br />r <br />During winter months, bald eagles have been observed along the Colorado River through DeBeque Canyon. <br />Four species of threatened or endangered fish may potentially inhabit the Colorado River in this area. These <br />are the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and humpback chug': <br />Additional information on the wildlife in the area can be found in Tab 11 of the permit application. <br />Land Use <br />i <br />Due to the long mining history of the area, and existence of the Cameo Power Plant adjacent to the North <br />Portal mine facilities, cuirent land use along the river and I-70 corridor in the mine vicinity is industrial. <br />Wildlife habitat is the primary use on adjacent dry uplands and tributary canyons. The post-mining land use <br />for the permitted area is wildlife habitat, with the exception that the Division proposes to approve, within <br />Permit Revision No. 3, a postmining land use of "Industrial or Commercial" fitr a designated portion of the <br />disturbed area within the South Portals facility area. <br />Description of the Omeration and Reclamation Plans <br />The general description of mine operations can be found in Tab 12 of the application; the reclamation plan in <br />Tab 14. <br />Mining by modern underground methods began in the permit area in 1974. E3etween 1974 and December <br />1999, when operations ceased, a total of 3,281 acres were affected by underground workings (including surface <br />area encompassed by the projected 12 degree subsidence angle of draw). Total (:'urface disturbance associated <br />with the mining and reclamation operation is approximately 243 acres. Since'December 1999, activity has <br />been limited to reclamation, maintenance, and monitoring. The only operational activity approved is storage <br />and rail loading and unloading ofconstruction materials at the unit train loadout:; At present, (July 2007) mine <br />portals have been sealed and extensive reclamation work has been performed. "Che approved permit does not <br />include plans to reinitiate mining, and no future disturbance of previously undisturbed areas is proposed. <br />Cameo Refuse Disposal Area No. 3 (CRDA-3) and ancillary facilities had been E:roposed prior to mine closure, <br />and were to be constructed in Coal Canyon, west of CRDA-1. Disturbance associated with the facilities did <br />not occur, and the permit has been amended to clarify that the facilities are no I'onger proposed or approved. <br />Final reclamation is to beicompleted in all areas by the end of 2009. <br />The reader is refereed to the Division's February 1 Q 2000 Findings ofCompliar~ce Document fora discussion <br />of the mining methods employed during active operations. <br />Sediment Control System <br />All surface runoff from disturbed areas is primarily routed through one of eight sediment ponds to prevent <br />additional contributions of sediment to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area due to mining <br />disturbances. Alternative,sediment controls are utilized at a number of approved small area exemption sites. <br />Within PR-3, the Division is proposing to approve a reduction in size of Sedirrli:ntation Pond 8 at fhe South <br />Portals Area, based on the extent of completed reclamation and vegetation estaF~lishment on the slopes of the <br />Pernit Revision No. 3 'i ~, Permit No. C-1981-041 <br />July 3Q 2007 ! ~ Page 12 <br />