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<br />These lands encompass approximately 19,940 acres and are found on the USGS 7.5 minute <br />quadrangle maps of Rattlesnake Butte, Cow Creek, Dunckney, Milner, Mount Harris, and Oak <br />Creek. <br />The mine has been in operation since 1983 and life of the currently approved mining operations <br />within the approved permit area is estimated to continue for an additional six (6) years. The <br />mining operations utilize longwall mining methods, with continuous miners for entry and <br />development work to recover coal from the Wadge seam at an average production rate of about <br />10 million tons per year but could reach the approved maximum production rate of 12 million <br />tons per year. <br />Specifically, PR-08 proposes to extend development and longwall mining into Federal lease <br />COC-72980 for the first time. This mining plan action would authorize Twentymil.e Coal <br />Company to recover the Federal coal within the area covered by Colorado State permit <br />C-1982-056, in: <br />Township 5 North, Range 87 West, 6`' P.M. <br />Section 22; E'hSWI/a, SEI/a; <br />Section 27; WI/2NE 1/a, EI/2NWI/a, NI/2NEI/4SWI/a, WI/2SEI/a. <br />OSM has determined that a Mining Plan Modification for the approval of the Assistant Secretary, <br />Lands and Minerals Management is necessary under 30 CFR 746.18(d)(4) since Twentymile <br />Coal Company will be entering this new Federal lease for the first time. <br />No new surface disturbance is associated with PR-08 and the mine's estimated annual water <br />depletions to the Upper Colorado River System will not change. <br />Site Description <br />The permit area ranges in elevation from 6,600 feet to 7,500 feet above mean sea level with the <br />portals located at 6,885 feet along Foidel Creek. Generally, the topography consists of gently <br />rolling hills, dip slopes and cliff outcrops. Flatter topography is present in the valleys of major <br />streams draining the area. The permit area is drained by Foidel Creek, an intermittent stream, <br />and Fish Creek and Middle, both perennial streams. Fish Creek drains to the east into Trout <br />Creek and Foidel Creek drains northeast to Middle Creek before Middle Creek joined Trout <br />Creek. Alluvial valley floors have been identified downstream of the permit area at the <br />confluence of Foidel Creek and Middle Creek, and on Trout Creek from its confluence with <br />Middle Creek down stream to the Yampa River. The vegetation communities within and <br />adjacent to the permit area is characterized by four major communities: grasslands, mountain <br />shrub, big sagebrush, and cropland; and by two sub-types; aspen and mountain shrub-rock <br />outcrop. Within the Foidel Creek mine disturbed area, the predominate vegetation types prior to <br />mining were big sagebrush and croplands (dryland small grains).