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r, <br />The permit area can be divided into two general land use categories. The loadout is within an area <br />historically used as cropland or, more specifically, orchard land. The permit area north of Highway 133 is <br />used as short-term grazing and wildlife habitat. Grazing tends to be short term due to the low productivity <br />of the pinon juniper and oakbrush vegetation. Some recreational use, hunting and hiking in particular, <br />occurs within the mine area. There are also a few summer homes, cow camps, and even a restaurant that <br />has been used intermittently. <br />The pre-mining land use classifications on the area are: (1) grazing land for domestic livestock and <br />wildlife, (2) orchard land in the area of the loadout facilities, and (3) previous mine disturbances. <br />Afterimining, BRL plans to return the land to the pre-mining land uses of grazing for livestock and wildlife <br />for th!e mine sites, and orchard land for the loadout facilities. The permit renewal will not change the <br />previously approved post-mining land uses. <br />t <br />Cultural and Historic Resources - Rules 2.04.4, 2.05.6(4) <br />Cultural, historic, and archaeological studies have been conducted over the life of mine and adjacent areas <br />in April and May of 1977, August 1980, August 1981, July 1982, May and September of 1984, and July <br />19861 The methodology and results of these surveys are set forth in detail in the Archaeological Appendix <br />in Volume 9B. The State Historical Preservation Officer reviewed the 1983 application/permit revision <br />and the 1986 permit revision and has determined that there are no sites within the permit area currently <br />listed in the National Register of Historic Places. <br />Surveys classified seven of these sites as eligible for the National Register pending further investigation. <br />None; of.the seven is going to be disturbed by development activities, and none will be undermined. The <br />Roatcap Game Trail Site (5DT 271) was excavated in late 1986 to ensure that increased access in the East <br />Roatcap drainage would not result in vandalism. Several of the other sites have a very limited potential for <br />subsidence damage, as they are found on the margins of the angle of draw. <br />Climatological Information and Air Resources - Rules 2.04.8, 2.05.4(2)(h) 2.05.60 <br />Climatological documentation is presented on pages 58-66, Section 2.04 of Volume 1 and in the <br />Climatology and Wind Direction Appendix, Volume 9. BRL has also provided copies of all emissions <br />permits from the Colorado Department of Health in Volume 9. Evaporation pan monitoring data are <br />summarized in the Annual Hydrology Reports. Climatological data for the North Fork region is available <br />from Paonia, three (3) miles due south and 1,500 feet lower in elevation than the mine site. The average <br />annual temperature is 49.ONF at Paonia, with an average monthly mean of 24.5NF in January and 71.9NF <br />in July. At Paonia, the annual precipitation is 8 to 15 inches. <br />The local climate of the North Fork area is strongly influenced by microclimatic features - slope aspect, <br />elevaiion, soil type, soil moisture content and vegetation. The steepness of the terrain, together with the <br />type and amount of vegetation, orientation and range of elevation, are the major controls of the diurnal <br />wind 'patterns. The shape and orientation of the North Fork valley is such that the drainage (or katabatic) <br />flow is the dominant flow for most hours of the day. Prevailing winds are from the south-southeast, with <br />wind 'speeds of ten (10) miles per hour occurring in June. Below Paonia, the wind speed appears to <br />decrease sharply as the air spreads over the lower valley. Because of this strong drainage wind, frost <br />pockets are not allowed to form, thus creating a favorable microclimate for fruit tree farming. <br />II