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<br />In transvering the permit area from ~_ast to west, the .mountain scrub community
<br />begins to ttin (in terms of density and cover) unt_1 it is r..placed e:z [te fa-
<br />[oESt by a community of big sagebrush and yrasses. Descending from the :i=ce of
<br />tns Williams Fozk mour_tairs (pzoceedi.^.q ne.tir.ar9) , sererai changes in ccrrnu-
<br />ritu compcsit_on are note3. ~t elevations atove 7,200 feet, the mountain shrub
<br />community is ct:aracterized by Oanbel's oa.i, ;,~hlch is dominan= over serviceberru
<br />and c.4nkecherry. snowbez•ry is the most conspicuous understoru component, with
<br />an occasional bic sagebrunii, robber rautittrus,`., or bitterbr'a h. .with a decrease
<br />in elevaticr. comes a corresponirg ciecreasa in oak 'ominarce. sacebrush, ser~-
<br />_ceberru chokecherry are interspersed, :~hi1a caY. dominates only :n east-facinr.
<br />s_'ones. Enterinr the lowest elevations, the _ivericeberry/ci:crecherry component
<br />diminisi:es, leaving a communitu dcm:nated by sagebrush, rabtitbrush, and grasses.
<br />Due to the presence of ,rare and varied habi.at tuces, .nanu _ypes of fauna are
<br />_`ound in and adjacent to the permit area. !3u_'e deer are found in the «nur..ain
<br />shrub community, sayebrushjgrass community, and pinyon/juri per community (to the
<br />south of the p=rmit_ area) Suring ail seasons of tt,e near. E1: use toe permit
<br />area prinar-ly in the fall, winter, and earlg sprang. In the sununer months, .
<br />e_'k renain at higher elevations in the f/i_liams Fcrk mountains to the east of
<br />the pEr.:1 t area. Blue grouse, sham.tail grouse, and Baca grouse ~.re all resi-
<br />dents or occasie::al residents of the permit area.
<br />DESCP.I?TIO:! OF THc OPE?AT_*Oids rND P.£CL~IIATION PUiN
<br />• Acpro::imately 10,335 acres comprise the proposed permit area. v_° this, :,54r
<br />acres of disturbance w`_'1 have uccurr~ed by the end cf tcis termit term. During
<br />the years 19°1-19E5, acpruximately 8iU acres will be distorted and 870 ac. es
<br />reclaimed. The increased reclaimed acreac•e results from reclamation of areas of
<br />existing dis^.rbance. Coal will be removed at a maximum rate of 2.7 m,L'icr. tons
<br />per u~ar until the year 1940, when crocuct-nn w`11 oe9in caeerinc off 'ot `_~e
<br />rerna_'ning Zife of the mine (until 201?): The projected life of Winn croducti:n
<br />of coal will be a maximum of 74 srillicr, tons. The projected life of mire from
<br />this date is thirty-t:,-o years.
<br />Coal wi_'1 be removed at the Trapper Mine using area strip tiring methods, .by
<br />dra;li,^.a. 5liniag will occur along strips oaraLel to the downhill dip of the
<br />coal scam; each p't leing ad~ace.^.t and parellei to the pr=viocs owe. ~It.en more
<br />than one seam 's recovered in a pit, oarti:gs are rc,rcved b_u shovel, dozer,
<br />cr 5ar_k:.oe, if th'n; or by drag'ine, if thick.
<br />There ar~= curr_nby three active piis at ~. he Tracper !line; t:he "d", cr .9s~~-ro re
<br />?it, the "D" or Derringer Pit; and the "E" or Enf-old Pit.. The D pit is t7:e
<br />:~asternm~st pit and the ioreest i.^. Zangth (:',5.0-x,000'). :din-nc in the ,7 eit
<br />progresses toward the east.. The c- hit is the eastern:n.at nlt and _s of incecmediate
<br />--•~ngth relative to the other c[•.o pits. 3t is being mi;:e~ from east i:o west
<br />any wil _' event uallu nor],=_ .._tt: the D pit. TF.e F.shurore pit is ec the north of
<br />loth she J and c pits. It is the shortest olt r."":VO-340') and has the short=et
<br />c5~cie t'me. _*t _s the must rapidly advarcirc pit of the th~~ee and is mov_n-7 from
<br />;west to east. .t will cunt_nue crocrescina vast std _., the ~u.rth of ohs - i t.
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