2010-05-07_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C2009087

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fairly uniformly throughout the year. The frost-free period inmost years extends from about June 1 through September 15. Soils Soils in the permit area and vicinity are generally shallow to moderately deep and moderately well- drained, productive Mollisols. Much of the area is covered by Vertisols (clay soils) and recently reclaimed soils mapped as poorly developed Entisols. Soils in the portal area are either reclaimed lands, clays, or alluvial lands undifferentiated. Ve etation Vegetation in the permit area is predominantly sagebrush grassland, mountain brush, and reclaimed mine lands. The proposed disturbance area of the PSCM portal and surface facilities contains reclaimed lands that are proposed for transfer from the Seneca II Mine permit area and previously undisturbed sagebrush/grassland vegetation. The following ten vegetation types have been mapped in the permit area: Sagebrush Grassland, Mountain Brush, Mined and Reclaimed land, Improved Pasture/CRP, Sagebrush/Mountain Brush Mosaic, Cropland/Small Grains, Mesic Drainage/Riparian, Western Wheatgrass/Alkali Sagebrush, Steep Mountain Brush, and Aspen. All vegetation types in the permit are characterized by cool season species. Land Use Rangeland (sheep and cattle grazing) is the dominant land use in the permit area and adjacent area. Other land uses are: cropland (hay fields), wildlife habitat, industrial/commercial (mining, oil wells, electric transmission lines), developed water resources (reservoirs), recreation (hunting and wildlife viewing), and residential. Approximately 175 acres of the proposed PSCM surface disturbance has light industrial uses (maintenance, warehouse, and office buildings) that are associated with the reclaimed Seneca II Mine and are proposed for transfer to the PSCM. Of the approximate 2,024.1 acres of of disturbed area proposed for the PSCM, 1,902 acres has previously been disturbed by mining at the Seneca 11 Mine and has since been restored to rangeland and wildlife land uses. The proposed postmining land uses for the PSCM are rangeland, wildlife habitat, and recreational use. Wildlife Habitat The PSCM permit area and adjacent area provide habitat for the following types of wildlife: big game, small mammals, upland game birds, raptors, breeding birds (song birds), amphibians, reptiles, and fish. Fish habitat is in the Yampa River. The following vegetation communities provide habitat for birds and mammals: grasslands, sagebrush shrub lands, mountain brush, and isolated pockets of aspen and coniferous forest. Potential raptor nesting habitat is provided. by cliffs and rock outcrops and scattered box elder and cottonwood trees. Habitat for all types of wildlife is provided in mesic bottomlands and riparian areas that occur along larger drainages, and by wetland vegetation that occurs around ponds and impoundments. Peabody Sage Creek Mine 9 May 7, 2010