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The climate in the region is semi-arid. Prevailing winds at or near ground level at the mine are dictated by the orientation of the deeply incised McClane Canyon. The annual average precipitation recorded at Fruita (22 miles southwest of McClane Canyon) is 8,8 inches. The soils in the permit area are well to excessively drained and have formed in alluvial or colluvial sediments. Sails are deepest in the valley bottoms and become shallower along the canyon sideslopes where they intersperse with bare rock. Most of the soils are rated good to fair as sources of topsoil for reclamation. Limitations exist for subsoils in the alluvium which demonstrate strongly alkaline pH values. The mine occurs within the lower montane climax region. Three vegetation types occur within and adjacent to the permit area. A greasewood shrubland type occupies the flat terrain along the East Salt Creek drainage where soils are deep, well drained and often very sodic and moderately saline. Shadscale shrubland borders the greasewood shrubland along the dry, steep, south facing slopes in the shallower sails which are interspersed with rock outcrops. Juniper woodland is found along the ridge tops and steep north and west facing slopes of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types are common to western Colorado and Utah, DESCRIPTION OF THE OPERATIONS AND RECLAMATION PLAN The McClane Canyon Mine is an underground coal mining operation. The proposed mine permit area encompasses 2,312 acres, of which 2,122 acres wilt be affected by mining, and 9.5 acres will undergo surface disturbance. The existing surface facilities include a bench portal and faceup area, upon which are located a crusher and gantry, water and fuel tanks, support trailers, a shop, a transformer and substation, ventilation fan, and rock dust bin. Other surface disturbances include an access road, topsoil and rip-rap stockpiles, a parking area, office and bath house, water tanks, and a sedimentation pond. Disturbed areas include ditches and culverts for sediment control. Future disturbance proposed for this operation includes a haul road to be constructed in conjunction with the haul road on the adjacent Munger Canyon Mine permit area. Coal is mined underground using room and pillar techniques. Prior to 1991, 526,666 tons of coal were produced at the McClane Canyon Mine. Anticipated production for this permit term is approximately 1.25 million tons of coal. Coal is mined at the exposed face by a continuous miner. The mined coal is then shuttled to a conveyor which transports the coal to the surface. The coal is then crushed, stockpiled, and loaded into highway trucks for delivery. The coal is trucked directly to the customer, When mining ceases at the McClane Canyon 14ine, the portals will be sealed and backfilled. Thy sediment ponds, haul road sections, and portions of the bench area will be graded to approximate original contour, and drainages reestablished. Regraded areas will be topsoiled, seeded, and mulched to establish vegetative cover of a variety consistent with surrounding naturally occurring vegetation. -5-