GENERAL50503

• Permit No: C1981044
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 12/16/2003
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for RN4
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Description of the Environment
Location of Permit Area. The Eagle Mines are located in Moffat County, Colorado on lands
within:
Townshin 6 North, Ranee 91 West
Portions of S'/ Section 17;
W'/z SW'/a Section 21,
W`/z W'/z Section 28,
W'/z Section 33,
E''/z Sectionl9,
E''/z Section 30;
Sections 20, 29, 31, 32, ALL.
Township 5 North. Ranee 91 West
Portions of W%z Section 4;
N'h Section 8,
N'/ Section 6,
Portions of S%z Section 6;
Section 5, ALL.
Township 6 North, Ranee 92 West:
Portions of S''/z Section 25;
S''/z SEYa Section 26,
W%z Section 35;
Section 36, ALL.
Townshiro 5 North. Ranee 92 West:
E%ZNE% Section 1.
Regional Climate. The climate of the region is classified as highland continental, and is
chazacterized by low precipitation, large fluctuations in diurnal temperatures, low humidity,
moderate wind, and high levels of insolation (exposure to sunlight). The Craig area is in the
rain snow shadow of mountain ranges to the west and south and consequently has a high number
of dry, clear days.
Local Climate. The climate of the Craig, Colorado azea is characteristic of semi-arid steppe
regions. The average annual precipitation for the town of Craig, 6 miles northeast of the Eagle
Mines, is 13.5 inches of which over one-third is snowfall (averaging 66.5 inches/year). Average
annual precipitation at the Trapper Mine, next to the Eagle Mines, is 16.7 inches. The mean
annual temperature in Craig is 43~F, with recorded extremes of -45'F and +100 F. Winds are
predominantly from the west, but are locally modified by topographic features. The growing
season for the azea azound Craig averages 77 days.
Physiographic Setting. The portals ofthe Eagle Mines are driven into the steep-sided walls of
the valley that the Williams Fork River has cut through the west end of the Williams Fork