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spring snowfall. Winds are most related to major storm fronts or down sloping winter <br />winds and are generally westerly and low to moderate in speed. <br />Soils can be categorized as sandy loam or loamy sand and are shallow in depth, <br />especially in upland areas. Soil pH is suitable and SAR values do not limit vegetation <br />growth. As with most soils in semi-arid western states, the main limiting factor in soil <br />suitability and vegetative growth is a deficiency in phosphorus and nitrogen. <br />The vegetation community in the permit area is dominated by aJuniper-Grassland <br />community regardless of slope or aspect. Vegetative cover averages about 45% and <br />production is nearly 1000 Ibs/acre of air-dried forage per acre, with 75% of the <br />production from perennial grasses. Fourwing saltbush and Skunkbush sumac are the <br />most common shrubs in the permit area. <br />Two historic mining areas lie within the permit area, the Chandler Mine in the southwest <br />corner and the Brookside, Prospect, and Canon City coal mines in the southern <br />portions of Sections 10 and 11. Known extent of historic mining is shown on Map 5, <br />Extent of Abandoned Mine workings of the permit application. Current land use as <br />defined by Fremont County Planning and Zoning is Agricultural Forestry in Sections 11, <br />12, and 14. Adjacent land in Sections 13 and 14 is zoned as Agricultural Living. <br />Physical land use in the area is mainly undeveloped land with occasional cattle grazing. <br />In the immediate permit area, target shooting and trash disposal occur in and around <br />Chandler Creek and in the western portions of the permit area east of County Road 77. <br />More recently, a 35 acre ranchette development named Chandler Heights has been <br />developed immediately south of the permit area. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />An extensive description of the operation plan and the mining facilities required is <br />included in the permit application on pages 2.05.3-1 to 2.05.3-33. A summary of the <br />operation plan is described below. <br />Northfield will utilize a room and pillar mining method to develop and extract coal from <br />the Ocean Wave seam. Following room development, pillars will be retreat-mined in a <br />specific sequence that ensures a safe and productive method to maximize coal <br />recovery. Northfield estimated coal production will be approximately 400,000 tons per <br />year for the initial and subsequent permit terms. Actual production will depend on coal <br />contracts. Most of the coal will be supplied to industrial customers requiring a 2 X 0 <br />size and additional sales are anticipated for a sized stoker coal product. The estimated <br />mine life at this time is 15 years given the projected annual production. However, <br />actual mine life is dependent on future production rates and potential movement into <br />adjacent coal reserves not currently permitted or within the approved boundary. <br />Map 7, (Mine Plan) of the application depicts the approved mining plan including the <br />location of the surface facilities and the layout of the underground mine workings. The <br />mine portal and surface facilities will be developed in a 20-acre area located west of <br />10 <br />