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preparation of vegetation inventories; therefore, portions of this mine site were not surveyed. However, as new areas are proposed to be disturbed, they aze first inventoried. Nine vegetation types have been inventoried in the mine permit azea, including agriculture, aspen, mixed shrub, mountain meadow, oakbrush, pinon juniper, sagebrush, spazse herbaceous understory, and riparian. The majority of the disturbed areas at Bowie No. 1 Mine are located in oakbrush communities dominated by Gambel oak uercus gambelii) and servicebeny (Amelanchier alnifolia) and in pinon juniper communities where Utah juniper (Juniyerus osteosperma) dominates over pinon pine (Pinus edulis). Other communities disturbed to a lesser degree include agriculture (orchazds), mixed shrub, and riparian. No threatened or endangered plant species have been identified on the permit area. Fish and Wildlife -Rules 2.04.11, 2.05.6(2), 4.18 The fish and wildlife resources sections of the application can be found on pages 56 to 87, Section 2.04 of Volume 1 and in the Wildlife Appendix, Volume 9A. The Fish and Wildlife Mitigation Plan can be found on pages 87 to 94, Section 2.05 of Volume 1. The general area contains important winter range for both elk and deer, and over 10,000 hunter days per year aze spent in this area. Golden eagles have been nesting near the mine site for several years, but no threatened or endangered wildlife species have been observed. The North Fork of the Gunnison River contains twelve (12) species offish, including three (3) species of game fish (rainbow trout, brown trout, and northern pike). However, due to the poor production of benthic organisms and poor habitat conditions, the North Fork is not stocked frequently. Impacts to wildlife are minimized by prohibiting public use of trails when big game aze concentrated in the winter (December 1 to Apri116), and by prohibiting the cutting of snags except those within the actual disturbed azea. Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans The Bowie No. 1 Mine is an existing underground mine which has been in operation since 1975. There aze three major disturbed areas within the permit boundary. The original portals east of Steven's Gulch were the site of the main offices, crushing and screening facilities, and storage and wazehouse areas. Before reclamation activities began in 2000, the Bowie No. 1 West Mine portals on East Roatcap Creek used to be adjoined by a small maintenance facility, ventilation shaft and water tank. The coal loadout facilities are located adjacent to the North Fork of the Gunnison River along State Highway 133. The Bowie No. 1 West Mine portal facilities in East Roatcap Creek enabled Bowie Resources Limited to access the reserves that had been cut off due to the fire at the main portals. Mining occurred west of the main East Mine during the 1988 to 1993 five-year mine plan. The East Mine portals were rehabilitated during late 1992 and early 1993. The two mines were connected 19