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The mine is located in the upper reaches of dtz Yampa River Basin. The permit area and adjacent areas are drained by Foidel Creek. an intzrmittent stream .and Fish Creek and Ibliddle Creek, both perennial streams. Fish Gee` drains east into Trout Creek whzreas Foidel Creel drains nottheast to Middle Gez!: bzfore :~lidd{z Creek fGi::? i rCUi l.(2Y.<. 1 ite Cl Bali ~ Jf l~a[e; in il;e rDn Lree\ anc t'OICe; Lr_LK Cr21na~°5 ha~'2 OCCn ai;a_:-_ previowly by surface mining upstream and downstream of the underground mine's zxistins surface facilities. .-~Iluvial valley floors are identitizd downstream oFthz mining area at the confluznce of Foidel and Middle Creek, and on Trout Creek from its confluence with Middle Creek downstream to the Yampa River. Permit Revision No. 3 dzclassified portions of Foidel and Middlz creeks previously classified as AVF's. Detailed discussion concerning alluvial valley floors can be found in Section B, part XVllf of this document as well as Exhibit 7j of thz permit. The climate within the permit and adjacent areas is semi-arid with a mean annual precipitation of 14.6 inches. Approximately 4~ percent of this precipitation occurs during the growing season of April though September. High temperatures generally range from 70-80°F in the summer months [o below freezing in the winter months. Normally, a significant snowpack resides on the ground for 4-5 months during thz winter. Two broadly classified soil complexes exist within the permit area. These are Typic Paleoborolls - Borollic Camborthids and Argic Cryoborolls- Cryic Paleoborolls. However, prior to mining, the Typic Paleoborolls - Borollic Camborthids soils covered the disturbed area. They occur primarily on uplands and are formed in materials weathered in place from soft shale. These clayey soils are moderately deep to deep, well drained and usually contain less than 35 percent rock fragments. Permeability is slow, shrink-swell potential is high and potential frost action is moderate to high. These soils are used for rangeland, non-irrigated cropland, and irrigated hay and pastureland. Vegetation in [he vicinity of the mine is characterized by four major communities: grassland, mountain shrub, big sagebrush, and cropland; and by hvo sub-types: aspen and mountain shrub-rock outcrop. Within the Foidel Creek Mine disturbed area, the prominent vegetation types prior to disturbance were big sagebrush and cropland (dryland small grains). Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area. The most predominant are elk, mule deer and Columbian Sharptail grouse. Other wildlife species include: black bear, cougar, rabbit, coyote, bobcat, red fox, rodents, bats, skunks, waterfowl, amphibians and reptiles. Two golden eagle nests are located on sandstone cliffs adjacent to the disturbed area within the permit boundary. There is critical winter habitat for elk, an elk migration corridor, elk calving grounds, and critical sage grouse habitat within and adjacent to the permit area. Sage grouse critical habitat is located outside of the disturbed area. Cultural and historic resources within the permit area include four historic sites and one prehistoric or protohistoric site. Two of the historic sites are undistinguished homesteads with no important architectural features and which are not associated tivith persons important in history. The third historic site is an uninhabited cabin with a corral. The Colorado State Historical Preservation Officer determined [hat this is an undistinguished structure with no important architectural features and with no association to persons important in history. The fourth historic site, the Foidel Canyon Schoolhouse, is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and is located in the general area of the main facilities along Foidel Creek. It will not be undermined or subsided and is protected appropriately. The prehistoric site (~RT345) is a rock art site located on the outcrop of the Twentymile Sandstone directly north of the main mine facility area. Ivtining approved under PR-02 (Southwest Ivtining District) undermined and subsided SRT345. Stipulation No. 33 was attached to the PR-02 approval and Twentymile Coal Company took appropriate measures, as determined by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLtvl), prior to undermining this site. Mitigation measures required by the BLM involved extensive research and documentation of this site. The site has since been destroyed by subsidence and subsequent rockfall. C:\JHB\C82056\PR05\PROS FINDINGS 62800.doc 8