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2.04.3 General Requirements: Site Descriytion and Land Use (1) At the time of the filing of this application, the land in question was occupied by the surface facilities for an underground mining operation. These facilities include 3 surface entries into the coal seam, a ventilation fan, diesel generators, shop, office, change house, access road, sediment ponds, coal stock piles, a well and a topsoil stockpile (Exhibit A). (2)(s) See Exhibit K. (2)(b)(i) The historic and pre-mining use of this un- developed land was for the grazing of livestock, wildlife habitat, and for recreational purposes. Its suitability for grazing is limited due to steep topography rising from 6,330 feet to 7,800 feet across the area that is now within the affected area of the Mine. Construction of the access road was similarly across steep areas (see soils information, Section 2.04.9). (2)(b)(ii) Before mining, it is doubtful if any uses other than recreation, wildlife habitat, or grazing could exist. The steepness of the slopes where the portal bench now exists would eliminate any farming or related activities. No economic timber is located at the Blue Ribbon Mine. The aak brush vegeta- tion type that existed prior to mining is classified by SCS as a brushy loam range site with normal forage production of 2,000 • lb/acre dry weight. The fluvial sediments in Hubbard Creek Val- ley have never supported crops of any type, including hay. A historical farming record is non-existent. During a surveS' by the SCS (October 1976), these areas were not broken out as s separate range site due to extreme variability of the sediments. The Paonis Soil Survey lists no valid soil profile due to this same variability of the in-place materials. The c•alley is somewhat steep and rocks and is high enough certainly that fruit trees would not grow as they do in the valley of the North Fork of the Gunnison River. 16 (Revised 3-16-89)