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<br />Most of the soil types found in the mine plan area contain at least six inches <br />of suitable topsoil material. The best sources of topsoil material are the <br />Splitro silt loam, the Winevada Loam, and the Cochetopa Loam which comprise <br />approximately 60% of the area to be disturbed. Salvage depths range from 6 to <br />64 inches, resulting in an overall soil replacement depth of 1.7 feet over <br />regraded areas. The tie-across haul road corridor area wi77 have an overa]1 <br />soil replacement depth of 1.1 feet. <br />Vegetation in the vicinity of the mine is characterized by three vegetative <br />types; mixed brush, sagebrush grassland, and aspen. Land use in this area is <br />undeveloped rangeland, with a small area classified as industrial due to an <br />oil well site. Because of livestock grazing, shrubs have increased in density <br />while fortis and grasses have decreased. <br />Vegetation in the vicinity of the tie-across haul road is characterized by <br />four vegetative types: low sagebrush, meadow, cropland, and greasewood. Land <br />use in this area is non-irrigated cropland, industrial and rangeland. The <br />non-irrigated cropland is used primarily for winter wheat production. The <br />designated industrial area classification is the permitted Hayden Gulch Mine <br />Loadout. <br />Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area of the mine site and <br />tie-across haul road. The most predominant big game species are elk and <br />deer, Common raptors are golden eagle, red-tailed hawk, great horned owl, <br />marsh hawk and American kestrel. Use by greater sand hill cranes occurs in <br />the area of the tie-across haul road with an active staging area for these <br />birds located approximately .75 miles north of the road. The application has <br />been reviewed by both the U S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Colorado Division <br />of Wildlife. <br />As part of a cultural resource inventory conducted for the mine area 10 sites <br />and 5 isolated finds were identified. Of these only 2 were considered <br />significant: one rock art site and one potential large camp site. The rock <br />art site is not located within the permit boundary, and the camp site will not <br />be disturbed. <br />Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />The Seneca II-W Mine is a surface mine. Mining is conducted using <br />conventional dragline methods. For more economic recovery the mine pits are <br />oriented perpendicular to the outcrop, Mining will occur in two separate pits <br />within the permit boundary. This 5 year permit term covers mining in the <br />southern portion of the lease area only. Both pits will mine the Wadge coal <br />seam, from the cropline to approximately 100 feet in depth. The Lennox seam <br />will be recovered where practical. The coal in the mine pit area dips <br />approximately 18 to 25 percent. <br />Coal to be mined is owned by the Federal government and is under lease to <br />Peabody Coal Company, A small portion of coal to be mined in the southern <br />portion of the south pit is owned by the Hayden Public Library and leased to <br />P eaboc~y . <br />-5- <br />