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XII. Post-minins Land Use <br />P~sturelnr.d and Rangeland are the oredomi~~~' la^d uses in t'•e e°-^:!~ area. F!is'~r.cally, marginal lands have <br />been planted to small Brain crops. The Federal Conservation Resen'e Program has encouraged the return of <br />these mareinal croplands to rangeland ar pastureland. Twentymile Caal Compan}'~s post-mining land uses of <br />pastureland and rangeland support the CRP goal and are in agreement with section d.16 of the Rules. A <br />discussion of the post-mining land-uses can be found be~;ittnin~~ on pale 2.0~-I?3, and on pa~e?.0~-I81 of <br />permit Volume 1. <br />XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br />Twentymile Coal Company evaluated the mine plan expansion area for threatened and endangered species. <br />The mining area is a[ an elevation above [hat for habitat defined for Ute lady's tresses orchid. The permit area <br />is below the elevation expected for Boreal toad and lynx. A raptor survey was conducted on areas projected for <br />subsidence of Middle Creek. No active nesting sites were identified within the proposed affected area and no <br />Bald eagles were observed in [he survey area. The Colorado Division of W ildlife sent a letter to the Colorado <br />Division of Minerals and Geology on January 28, 2000. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) <br />determined that the proposed underground expansion , "should not negatively impact any state listed threatened <br />or endangered species," The proposed affected area encompasses habitat for Columbian sharp-tailed grouse. <br />Although Columbian sharp-tailed grouse populations are increasing in the Twentymile Park and neighboring <br />reclaimed surface mine areas (personal communication with CDOW) the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is in <br />the process of reviewing [he species status with respect to listing the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse species as <br />threatened. The CDOW determined that [he proposed Foidel Creek Mine operation, "should not have any <br />significant impacts to the existing Columbian sharp-tailed grouse habitats in this area." <br />XIV. Protection of Underground Mining <br />No active surface mining activities are taking place in [he immediate,vicinity of the Foidel Creek Mine. No <br />specific approvals are granted under this section. <br />XV. Subsidence Control <br />The applicant has predicted that no material damage will result from subsidence. However, numerous <br />structures exist above the mining area. The applicant has presented a subsidence control plan to repair or <br />mitigate damage caused by subsidence for each of the existing structures. Details regarding the subsidence <br />control plan may be found in the approved permit. A brief summary of the subsidence control measures for <br />each structure follows. <br />County Road No. 33 <br />When daily monitoring reveals that the asphalt road surface has buckled or been damaged due to subsidence, <br />TCC will temporarily repair the surface using gravel. Once subsidence monitoring indicates that subsidence <br />has ceased, a permanent asphalt overlay or patch will be applied to the damaged road section. This method has <br />successfully been employed during the mining of Longwall panels 9R, 8R, 7R, 6R and ~R in the Eastern <br />Mining District. Twentymile Coal Company re-paved segments of Routt County Road No. 33 in the fall of <br />1999, that had experienced damage due to subsidence of Longwall Panels SR and 6R. Only 12 Right gateroad. <br />13 Right gateroad, and 12 Right longwall panel will affect Routt Counry Road No. 33 with this mine plan <br />expansion. A culvert that directs Foidel Creek tinder Routt County Road No. 33 will be monitored and repaired <br />should subsidence cause damage to the culvert or interfere with the flow of Foidel Creek though the culvert. <br />C:\JHB\C82056\PR05\PR05 FINDINGS 62800.doc <br />25 <br />