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D. Transportation <br /> The surface of the application area is accessed by the Minnesota <br /> • Creek Drainage to the south. Coal is transported by underground <br /> conveyor to the loadout tipple on fee lands. The loadout <br /> facility is served by the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad. This <br /> spur is used solely for coal haulage. The line ends just past <br /> the West Elk Mine and connects loadout facilities of several coal <br /> mines along the route. In 1992, six to seven 100-car trains <br /> hauled coal between the mines in Paonia and Grand Junction every <br /> week. The trains haul coal from the Bear Mine, West Elk Mine, <br /> Orchard Valley Mine and the Sanborn Creek Mine. Coal cars are <br /> sided at loadout facilities until they are filled with coal. <br /> E. Climate and Air duality <br /> The climate can be described as having moderate summer and cold <br /> winter temperatures and receiving a moderate amount of <br /> precipitation. Maximum summer temperatures generally do not <br /> exceed 90' F; winter low temperatures are frequently less than 15' <br /> F. Annual precipitation is variable ranging from 7 to 25 inches. <br /> The town of Paonia averages around 15 inches of precipitation <br /> annually. West winds predominate, however, there is a noticeable <br /> diurnal wind pattern ,of upslope during the day and downslope at <br /> night. <br /> Air quality in the vicinity of the application lands is typical <br /> of undeveloped regions in the western United States; ambient <br /> • pollutant levels are usually near or below the measurable limits. <br /> Notable exceptions in the Delta County area include high, short- <br /> term concentrations of total suspended particulates related to <br /> local winds, ozone, non-methane hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide, <br /> especially in communities. <br /> Average visibility is about 54 miles with greatest visibility <br /> occurring during spring and summer months. This portion of the <br /> North Fork of the Gunnison River has been designated as a Class <br /> II area. There are no major stationary sources of air pollution <br /> in the immediate vicinity, nor is the train and vehicular traffic <br /> along the North Fork of the Gunnison River of a magnitude so as <br /> to constitute a significant source of air pollution. There is <br /> coal dust .generated from existing mines. <br /> F. Wildlife <br /> Wildlife consists of species typical of mountain, shrub and <br /> pinyon/juniper zones. The tract is within critical deer winter <br /> range. Critical elk winter range exists to the south, but there <br /> is no critical elk winter range on the tract. <br /> Golden eagles use the review area as hunting habitat. Also, the <br /> potential exists for nesting to occur. BLM inventories conducted <br /> from 1978 to 1980 and monitoring flights through 1985 did not <br /> . locate any nest or roost sites. No nest sites are known to be <br /> present at this time. <br /> Page 7 <br />