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Doc Date:1211112001 III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />~ 2.04 Application for Permit for Surface or <br />Underground Mining Activities <br />__ - - . __ - _ _ - - m____~._. ~~____...~y..~ __.t~s, <br />2.04.1 Objective <br />The following is a complete description of the environmental resources at and near the West Elk <br />Mine. <br />2.04.2 Responsibilities <br />Mountain Coal Company is providing information required under this section to illustrate and <br />describe the environmental resources that may be affected by the West Elk Mine. <br />2.04.3 General Requirements: Site Description and Land Use <br />Information <br />General Description: West Elk Mine Permit and Adjacent Area <br />• The West Elk Mine permit azea is located primarily on the westem edge of Gunnison County, with <br />some extension into Delta County, Colorado, neaz the unincorporated town of Somerset. The site <br />lies along the westem flank of the West Elk Mountains within the drainage basin of the North Fork <br />of the Gunnison River. Average annual precipitation ranges from approximately 25 mm (10 inches) <br />along the North Fork of the Gunnison River and the lower portion of Minnesota Creek to as much <br />as 60 mm (24 inches) on the flanks of Mount Gunnison. The majority of the precipitation falls as <br />snow during the winter months, while the sparse summer precipitation consists of isolated <br />thunderstorms. The majority of the area is covered with tall (1-3 m) shrub vegetation, consisting <br />primarily of Gambel oak (Quercus gambelir) and Saskatoon serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolio). <br />The azea is currently used for grazing by domestic livestock (cattle and sheep), and wildlife (deer <br />and elk). Recreational activities such as big game hunting also occur here. The Somerset and Bear <br />Mines aze located just northwest of the West Elk Mine. <br />The West Elk Mine permit area is drained by the North Fork of the Gunnison River, which is part <br />of the Colorado River drainage basin. The northern one-third of the permit azea is drained by <br />ephemeral streams directly into the North Fork of the Gunnison River, while Minnesota Creek <br />serves as the main watercourse for the remainder of the area. <br />Slopes range from 0 to 90 percent on the permit area. Elevations on the property range from about <br />5,900 feet in the vicinity of Somerset in the valley of the North Fork to about 9,200 feet in the <br />extreme southeast comer of the coal lease area on the flanks of Mount Gunnison. However, most of <br />. the coal lease area is between 7,000 and 8,000 feet in elevation. Major topographic expressions in <br />the area are: to the south (Mt. Lamborn - 11,396 feet, Coal Mountain - 11,695 feet, and the Chain <br />2.04-1 Revised Jan. l99! PROS; Revised Jun. 1995 PR06 <br />