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described in Exhibit 6 and on Map 8 of the PAP. There are four coal seams below the "F" seam <br />which cannot be economically mined by surface mining methods. These seams are described in <br />the Northwest Colorado Environmental Impact Statement, Site-Specific Anal. <br />Results of test borings are included in Section 2.04.6 Geology Description, Volume 12, for the <br />South Taylor and Lower Wilson Area. Test borings resulted in information on the presence of <br />subsurface water, characterization of the physical properties of the overburden, and testing and <br />evaluation of the geochemical properties of the overburden. Additional discussion of the results <br />of this testing can be found in Section III E of this document. <br />3.2.6 Climate <br />Climatic information is found in Section 2.04.8 of Volume 1 of the PAP. The region is <br />characterized by a semi-arid steppe climate regime. Precipitation averages 18 inches per year <br />with a significant portion of this yearly precipitation occurring as snowfall. Prevailing winds <br />over the permit area are from the southwest and average eight to nine miles per hour. High winds <br />are not common, due to the protection afforded by local terrain. <br />3.2.7 Soils <br />Soils information is found in Section B, Item IV of this document, as well as in Section 2.04.9 <br />and Exhibit 9 of the PAP original volumes. Additional soils information associated with the PR- <br />2 South Taylor and Lower Wilson expansion areas is included in Section 2.04.9 of Volume 12, <br />Exhibit 9 of Volume 13, and Maps 5A, 513, and 5C of Volume 14. The most prevalent soils, <br />including Burnette, Work, Lamphier, Rhone, and Northwater Loams, are mollisols of the <br />suborder boroll, which developed from residuum or colluvium on gently sloping to rolling <br />ridgetops, moderately steep sideslopes, and in gently sloping, concave narrow stream valleys. <br />Shallow, rocky soils of the order entisol occur to a limited extent within the area to be disturbed <br />on steep, south-facing slopes. The very thick Silas loam soil developed from alluvium is found <br />within narrow bands along the larger ephemeral drainages. <br />The predominant hill-slope soils have relatively thick, loamy textured mollic epipedons, well <br />suited for reclamation use. Salvageable thickness of these soils averages from 12 inches to 30 <br />inches. Subsoils in these units are somewhat marginal, due to heavier texture or excessive <br />cobbles. The Silas loam soil along the drainage valley bottoms is generally suitable for salvage <br />to depths of five feet or more. <br />3.2.8 Ground Water Hydrology <br />Ground water information is found in Sections 2.04.5, 2.04.7 (Volume 1 for the East Pit, West <br />Pit, Section 16 Pit, Facilities Area and Gossard Loadout and Volume 12 for South Taylor) and <br />Exhibit 7 of the PAP and in Colowyo's Annual Hydrologic Reports. Ground water occurs as <br />isolated, perched aquifers in interbedded and lenticular sandstones and coals and within isolated <br />alluvial aquifers. Base flow in the two perennial streams in the general area (Good Spring Creek <br />and Wilson Creek) comes mainly from ground water discharge from alluvial aquifers in the <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance 14 September 2009 <br />Permit Renewal 05 Page 21