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t:.;.~:,,, k <br />._ ~i~:Wfxi~4!.' ti;_ ~tS(~u~~"~'s'{C:v'afl: 'S'~~t__~'S`{n~:...:; ..F ...,:: _. <br />". .r r.•. .... _ <br />' _~C)2' '--. - ..."~:~~slTa4"~i~LTn+. _, _~i_~ ~'~-'_. i-•1",' ::i• .:. <br />Wet mixed climb is the most prevalent vegetation type in the permit area and is characterized <br />by dense shrub stands dominated by serviceberry (AmelancGier alnifolia) and gambel oak <br />(Quercus gam6elit). The type dominates the north and east facing slopes south of the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River. Steep north facing slopes at higher elevations support stands of <br />douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesit). Riparian vegetation, including cottonwood bees <br />(Populus angustifolia), shrubs such as willow (SaGx spp.) and hawthorne (G}ataegus spp.) <br />and numerous herbaceous species, occurs along undisturbed sections of the North Fork of We <br />Gunnison flood plain. Small areas of Aspen, Juniper-Pinon and Dry meadow vegetation <br />types exist at higher elevations on the permit area. <br />The Wet mixed shnub and riparian vegetation types have been affected by mining at the Bear <br />No. 1, 2, and 3 surface facilities areas. Mining impacts to the vegetation types at the Bear <br />No. 1 and 3 Mines began in 1934. The area at the Bear No. 2 Mine was disturbed in 1980. <br />Revegetation activities have taken place at the Bear No. 1 and 2 disturbed areas. <br />Revegetation of the Bear No. 3 surface disturbance will commence when active mining <br />ceases. •-' - <br />Fish and Wildlife -Rules 2.04.11. 2.05.6(21. and 4.18 <br />Fish and wildlife resource information is located in Section 2.04.1 of the Bear No. 1'and 2 . <br />permit application aad Sections 2.04.11 and 4.18 aad Bxhibit 10 of the Bear No. 3 permit <br />revision application. Information describing the mitigation of coal mining impacts on fish <br />and wildlife is presented in Section 2.05.6 of the Bear No. 1 and 2 permit application and <br />Sections 2.05.4 and 2.05.6 of the Bear No. 3 permit revision application. <br />Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area. Mule deer and elk which utilize the <br />mountain shrub habitat in, and adjacent to, the permit area throughout the year are the most <br />prominent big game species. The northern bald eagle is a winter resident along the North <br />Fork of the Gunnison River. and is the only rare or endangered wildlife species in the area. <br />The NoNr Fork of the Gunnison River from Paonia Reservoir downstream five miles to <br />Somerset is stocked by the Division of Wildlife with rainbow trout and supports an estimated <br />2,000 angler days per year. Below Somerset to the confluence with the Gunnison River, the <br />fishery is less important, with rough fish such as suckers, scuplins and northern pike making <br />up a larger proportion of the fish population. <br />Desc~tion of Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />A description of mining operations at the Bear No. 1 and 2 Mines is located in <br />Sections 2.05.2 and 2.05.3 of the Bear No. 1 and 2 permit application. Mining operations at <br />We Bear No. 3 Mine are described in Sections 2.05.2, 2.053 and 4.02 to 4.11, and Maps 9 <br />and 10 of the Bear No. 3 Permit Revision No. 1 application, Section 2.05-7 and map 9-a of <br />Permit Revision No. 2 application, and in Exhibits 14 and 19 of the Bear midterm response. <br />The Bear Coal Company currently extracts coal from the Bear No. 3 Mine. No coal has <br />been extracted from the Bear No. 1 and 2 Mines since June of 1982. The Bear No. 3 Mine <br />is an underground mom and pillar operation, currently producing an average of 450,000 to <br />500,000 tons of coal per year from the B-Seam. The coal mined by Bear Coal Company is <br />11 <br />