2009-05-22_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981044

• Permit No: C1981044
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 5/22/2009
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision & Findings of Compliance for RN5
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Email Name: JRS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

Description of the Environment
Location of Permit Area. The Eagle Mines are located in Moffat County, Colorado on lands
within:
Township 6 North. Ranee 91 West:
Portions of S%2 Section 17;
W%2 SW'/ Section 21,
W'/2 W%2 Section 28,
W'h Section 33,
E''/2 Section 19,
E'/2Section 30;
Sections 20, 29, 31, 32, ALL.
Township 5 North. Rance 91 West:
Portions of W%2 Section 4;
N'h Section 8,
N%2 Section 6,
Portions of S'/2 Section 6;
Section 5, ALL.
Township 6 North. Ranize 92 West:
Portions of S%2 Section 25;
S''/2 SE % Section 26,
W%2 Section 35;
Section 36, ALL.
Township 5 North, Range 92 West:
E%2 NE'/ Section 1.
Regional Climate. The climate of the region is classified as highland continental, and is
characterized by low precipitation, large fluctuations in diurnal temperatures, low humidity,
moderate wind, and high levels of insolation (exposure to sunlight). The Craig area is in the
rain/snow shadow of mountain ranges to the west and south and consequently has a high number
of dry, clear days.
Local Climate. The climate of the Craig, Colorado area is characteristic of semi-arid steppe
regions. The average annual precipitation for the town of Craig, 6 miles northeast of the Eagle
Mines, is 13.5 inches of which over one-third is snowfall (averaging 66.5 inches/year). Average
annual precipitation at the Trapper Mine, next to the Eagle Mine Complex, is 16.7 inches. The
mean annual temperature in Craig is 43oF, with recorded extremes of -45*F and +100'F. Winds
are predominantly from the west, but are locally modified by topographic features. The growing
season for the area around Craig averages 77 days.
Physiographic Setting. The No. 5 and No. 5A portals of the Eagle Mine Complex are driven
into the steep-sided walls of the valley that the Williams Fork River has cut through at the west
end of the Williams Fork Mountains. The mines' facilities area is in the bottom of the valley.
Eagle Mine Complex 4 Permit Renewal 05
C-1981-044 May 22, 2009