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XIII. Fish and 'dildlife - Rules 2,04.11, 2.05,6(2) and 4.18 Information on potential impacts to fish and wildlife are found on pages 14 and 15 and in Exhibit 7 of the permit renewal application. The effect of the mining operation on wildlife is expected to be minimal for the following reasons: 1) the surface disturbance is small (3,22 acres) and will not be increased in size; 2) there are no critical or unique habitats which will be affected by mining operation; and, 3) the plant species chosen for reclamation will provide food and cover for wildlife, Pursuant to the finding required by 2,07.6(2)(n) and on the basis of available information, the Division finds the operation will not affect the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats. The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. XIV, Prime Farn]ands -Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6 and 4,25 The Division has made a negative determination on the presence of prime farmlands based on information provided by the Soil Conservation Service and in the original permit application presented in Exhibit 4. Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(k), the Division makes a negative determination for presence of prime farmland. The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. XV. Operations Description - Rules 2.05.2, 2.05.3(1), and 2.05.3(2) Information on the operations description can be found on pages 4 to 5 and 11 through 13 and in Exhibits 2, 6, 7, 10, 11 and 13 of the renewal application. Hining of coal at the O.C. iAine No. 2 employs a conventional room and pillar underground mining method. Rooms are 20 feet •wide on 40 to 100 foot centers. Coal is mined by undercutting the coal with a cutting machine, drilling the face and blasting. A locomotive and two ton cars are used to haul the coal to the surface. The surface operations associated with the underground mining include crushing, stockpiling and loading coal, This activity is contained within the 3.22 acres of disturbance. The existing structures on the surface include the tipple, office, storage shed, repair shop, oil storage area, and explosives `• storage area. Anon-coal waste pile area has been approved by the Division in the event that the operator must temporarily or permanently cease backfilling the material in the underground works (see Section XVII Backfilling and Grading of this document). The operator is contemplating insta]lation of a truck scale in the future in the current area of disturbance. The operator does not presently propose to increase the disturbed area during the permit term. -1 4-