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Denver, Colorado 80203, telephone (303> 866-3561.. Copies of the application are also available for inspection at the Delta County Clerk and Recorder's Office in Delta, Colorado. Description of the Environment The Orchard Valley Mine is situated in the northeastern portion of Delta County, Colorado, and is located approximately four (4) miles north of Paonia, Colorado, along the Steven's Gulch Road. The western extremities of the Orchard Valley Mine permit area are bounded closely by the East and West Roatcap Creek drainage divide, and the northern boundary is located at approximately the Morrell Cow Camp area. The location of the entire Orchard Valley Permit area can be found on Figure 1. The coal loadout facilities are located approximately one mile northeast of Paonia along State Highway No. 133. The general area in which the mine is located is characterized by a semi-arid environment of steeply sloping mountains. Both the main mine portal facilities and the loadout were constructed in the 1970's, prior to the passage of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act (SMCRA). Land Use - Rules 2.04.3, 2.05.5, 4.16 The discussion of land use may be found in Volume 1 on pages 1 to 10 of Section 2.04.3 and pages 80 to 83 of Section 2.05.5. Aland use appendix is located in Volume 9, along with Map No. 9-l, "Land Use Information Map." The permit area can be divided into two general land use categories. The loadout is within an area historically used as cropland or, more specifically, orchard land. The permit area north of Highway 133 is used as short-term grazing and wildlife habitat. Grazing tends to be short term due to the low productivity of the pinon-juniper and oakbrush vegetation. Some recreational use, hunting and hiking in particular, occurs within the mine area. There are also a few summer homes, cow camps, and even a restaurant that has been used intermittently. The pre-mining land use classifications on the area are: (1) grazing land for domestic livestock and wildlife, (2) orchard land in the area of the loadout facilities, and (3> previous mine disturbances. After mining, Cyprus Orchard Valley Coal Corporation plans to return the land to the pre-mining land uses of grazing for livestock and wildlife for the mine site, and orchard land for the loadout facilities. The permit revision will not change the previously approved post-mining land uses. Cultural and Historic Resources - Rules 2.04.4, 2.05.6(4) Cultural, historic, and archaeological studies have been conducted over the life of mine and adjacent areas in April and May of 1977, August 1980, August 1981, July 1982, May and September of 1984, and July 1986. The methodology and results of these surveys are set forth in detail in the Archaeological Appendix in Volume 96. The State Historical Preservation -9-