Laserfiche WebLink
3.2.6. Climate (Permit, Sec 2.04.8, pages 65 - 71) <br />The Keenesburg mine site is situated in an azea which has a "continental" type of climate, <br />chazacterized by low relative humidity, a lazge amount of sunshine, light rainfall, moderately <br />high winds, and large daily range in temperature. The average annual mean temperature is 48.4° <br />F. The annual average precipitation ranges from 11.12 to 16.32 inches. Fort Lupton, which has <br />an average annual precipitation of 12.5 inches, provides the best estimate of precipitation at the <br />azea (Findings, 1992). <br />3.2.7 Vegetation, Wildlife and Land Use (Findings, Renewa102, 1992; Sections 2.04.10, <br />2.04.11, and 2.05.3 of the Application) <br />The undisturbed lands in the azea of the Permit are moderately to well stabilized by a sandsage- <br />prairie sandreed plant association that is used primarily for grazing by cattle in summer months. <br />Wildlife is limited to small rodents, primarily field mice, and birds with an occasional spotting of <br />raptors such as hawks or eagles. Deer and pronghorn aze raze as are most higher order <br />vertebrates. There aze no known endangered species in the azea. <br />The post mining use of the permit azea is rangeland. The premining soil capability class is VIe <br />for irrigated and non-irrigated Valent soils. Osgood soils have capability classes of IVe for <br />irrigated crops and VIe for non-irrigated conditions. The premining land use classification of the <br />area was rangeland, a determination made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural <br />Resources (Soil) Conservation Service, as shown on page 37 of the renewal application, general <br />soil map of Weld County, Colorado. The land cannot support a variety of uses under existing <br />technologies and local resources. All attempts at dryland farming on the azea have been <br />abandoned, and the damage caused by those attempts will remain evident for many decades. <br />3.3 Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />3.3.1 Topsoil Stripping and Replacement Depths <br />No stripping of undisturbed topsoil is anticipated during the forthcoming renewal period of the <br />Permit. Only reclamation activities are anticipated. Replacement depths of topsoil aze: <br />2 feet, over 6 feet of overburden spoil cover on ash (disposal areas) (PAP, Sec 2.05.4, page <br />114, line 7). <br />24" over roads (PAP, Sec 2.05.4, page 114b, line 1). <br />15" over the long-term spoil azea (PAP, Sec 2.05.4, page 114b, line 3). <br />6" over facilities and topsand storage azeas (PAP, 2.05.4, page 114b, line 4). <br />Permit Renewa] 04 Findings <br />30 August 2001 <br />Page 10 of 25 Pages <br />