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good cause shown. In this case, BRL planned on salvaging the top two to three inches of topsoil and then <br />placing geotextile fabric on the coverfill area. Removal of the entire topsoil horizon would have resulted <br />in needless damage to the soil characteristics. BRL committed to taking measures to protect the topsoil <br />resource. However, all of the cut material was used in the fill so no excess coverfill material resulted from <br />the construction of the train loadout. Therefore, no variance from topsoil salvaging was needed. <br />The construction of the B-seam portal bench and the associated excavated soil storage area, approved <br />through PR-07, disturbed soils that are classified as the Absarokee loam series (Beenon-Absarokee <br />Association). <br />Vegetation Information - <br />Detailed vegetation information for the Bowie No. 2 permit area is presented in Section 2.04.10 of the <br />permit application document. The following summary is derived from the information presented in <br />Section 2.04. 10 of the permit document. <br />Three (3) plant communities are present within the main surface operations, facilities and surrounding <br />areas. These communities are referred to as the Juniper Woodland, Mixed Shrub and Disturbed Meadow <br />communities. <br />The Juniper Woodland community exhibits such plant species as Snowberry, Gambel oak and <br />Serviceberry. The Mixed Shrub community exhibits plant species such as Gamble Oak and Serviceberry. <br />The Meadow community is dominated by annual and noxious plant species, such as bindweed, cheatgrass <br />and Japanese brome. Alfalfa and Kentucky Bluegrass are also present. <br />An area of approximately 0.31 acres is identified as wetland. This area will be disturbed, and this activity <br />will be conducted in compliance with a permit issued by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. The <br />proposed disturbed area was also surveyed for threatened and endangered plant species; however, no such <br />species were found. <br />The Division agrees with the operator's conclusion that the proposed disturbed area is similar to the <br />Lower Meadow Community that exists at the mine site and is shown on Map No. 3, "Vegetation." in the <br />permit application package. <br />A small area was disturbed in the douglas fir vegetation community in the construction of the Freeman <br />Gulch vent shaft. <br />The lands disturbed in Permit Revision No. 6 were primarily pasture and hayland. In constructing certain <br />sections of the railroad track, some areas close to wetlands were disturbed. BRL installed sediment <br />control measures so that the wetlands were not disturbed. <br />The construction of the B-seam portal bench and the associated excavated soil storage area, approved <br />through PR-07, disturbed vegetation that is classified as being mixed shrubland. <br />In Technical Revision No. 46, a new Juniper woodland reference area was established so that the current <br />Juniper woodland reference area can be disturbed. Also in this revision, the Colorado Division of Wildlife <br />approved the use of shrub clumps instead of having a woody plant density standard. <br />16