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Chapter IV <br /> b. Description of Renewable Resource Lands. <br /> Renewable resource lands that can be identified above underground workings, or <br /> within the areas of possible surface subsidence, consist of grazing lands and aquifer <br /> recharge areas. <br /> At elevations between 10,000 and 12,000 feet, and on unusually rugged mountainous <br /> surface terrain, there is limited grazing during the summer months which may qualify a <br /> portion of the surface area as renewable resource lands. It is estimated that only about <br /> 25% of the possible surface subsidence area contains grazing and browsing <br /> vegetation. The remainder is barren rock fields, rock cliffs and shale slides. There is <br /> no marketable timber or agriculture land due to the nature of the soils, the rugged <br /> topography and the climate at such high elevations. None of the U.S. Forest Service <br /> cattle grazing permits extend to the high elevations where possible surface subsidence <br /> could occur. One sheep grazing permit is granted in the Gunnison National Forest <br /> portion of the mining permit area. It lies above a small portion of the area that could <br /> possibly be affected by surface subsidence. A few elk and deer graze along the high <br /> rugged slopes and along the crest of Huntsman Ridge in early summer. They move to <br /> lower elevations in late summer, and none winter in the permit area. <br /> Hydrologic studies of the permit area show that the major aquifers lie in the Rollins <br /> Sandstone formation which is below the coal seams being mined. Sandstone lithologic <br /> units within the Mesaverde above the coal possess transmissivities and specific yields <br /> of such low values that regional hydrology would not be influenced significantly by <br /> underground mining activities. (See Section C-4-b. Volume 4). <br /> During the adequacy review of this section by MLRD in 1981-83, Mid-Continent's <br /> contention that underground mining activities would not significantly influence the <br /> regional hydrology was challenged. The following explanation was presented by <br /> Willard Owens consulting company on the protection of the hydrologic balance in Coal <br /> Basin: <br /> — "Our statements suggesting that the transmissivity and <br /> specific yields of the Mesaverde Formation are so low <br /> that the regional hydrology would not be significantly <br /> altered by mining activities are supported by the general <br /> conclusions of the "West Central Colorado Coal <br /> Environmental Statement." In pursuing additional data <br /> on the transmissivity and specific yield of the Mesaverde <br /> Formation, we contacted personnel with the USGS <br /> office in Grand Junction. The USGS is currently <br /> undertaking a 3 to 5 year program to evaluate all <br /> groundwater aquifers in the area. However, the <br /> Mesaverde Formation is not a particularly significant <br /> aquifer in this study. As yet, the USGS personnel have <br /> collected no permeability data on the Mesaverde <br /> 27 <br />