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3.2 Description of the Environment <br />3.2.1 Maps <br />A Permit Area Map is located in the Permit as Appendix A-1 (Sheet 1 of 1, 03-18-93). The <br />permit area is delineated, and major drainages, divides, and basins are depicted on the Surface <br />and Mineral Ownership Map (May 1, 1996) (Appendix A-2) and Adjacent Property Owners <br />Maps (May 1, 1996) (Appendix A-3) [overprint of blueline extracts of USGS 7.5-minute <br />Topographic Map Quadrangles Klug Ranch and Tampa (quadrangles on file in the reference <br />map files)]. <br />3.2.2 General, Disturbed and Affected Area <br />The Keenesburg Mine is approximately 4.5 miles north of Keenesburg, Colorado. The legal <br />description of the permit area is presented under paragraph 1.1 above. Of the 822.37 acres in <br />the Permit area, 413 acres were disturbed. [The Keenesburg Mine was a surface mine, thus <br />Affected acreage equals Disturbed acreage at 413 acres.] Of the 413 disturbed acres, 226.5 <br />acres have been reclaimed and revegetated (AHR, 1996). In its 1996 Bond Release <br />Application, CEC applied for Phase I and II release of 111.5 acres of 179.6 reported as <br />vegetated. <br />3.2.3 Resource to be Mined <br />There is no coal extraction activity at the site and none is anticipated (Application, Sec 2.03.8, <br />page 29, 5/96). The open pits are being backfilled with fly ash imported from a~E6Trigen- <br />Colorado L. L.L.P. power plant in Golden, and reclaimed in accordance with the reclamation <br />plan described in the Permit. During active surface coal extraction, the number 7 seam of the <br />Laramie formation was mined (Application, Sec 2.04.5, para 3, page 41). <br />3.2.4 Geology, Soils and Topography (Application, Sec 2.04.5, page 39 through 2.04.6 page <br />47, 5/96) <br />The permit area is located on level to gently rolling topography consisting of fine sand, which <br />is wind-deposited material overlying weathered residual shale. The sand varies in depth from <br />about 5 feet to 20 feet, is highly to moderately permeable, and is highly susceptible to wind <br />erosion. Previous mining activity at the site extracted the No. 7 coal seam of the Laramie <br />Formation. The flat-lying coal seam is overlain by 60-180 feet of overburden consisting of <br />yellow-brown and gray to blue gray soft carbonaceous shale and clay interbedded with sand <br />and shaley sand. At the base of the Laramie formation is the Fox Hills member, a cross <br />bedded gray to buff sandstone which is slightly to well cemented. <br />15 18 February 1998 <br />