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minor graminoids including a number of forbs. Sage and snakeweed were the dominant <br />shrubs. Vegetative cover can be characterized as moderate (18 percent), as is productivity <br />(560 lb/ac). The willow carr riparian community is located in the Purgatoire River drainage at <br />an elevation of 7,400 feet at the New Elk Mine. The dominant species was willow with a <br />diverse graminoid and forb understory. Vegetative cover is high (43 percent), as is productivity <br />(2,140 lb/ac). <br />Soils in the area of the mine range from very shallow on the steep side slopes to deep, well- <br />drained loams with a dark-colored surface layer found in the valley bottom along the <br />Purgatoire River. <br />The Jansen Loadout is located in an unincorporated area on the west side of Trinidad, <br />Colorado. Land use of the site has been industrial for at least two decades. The site is located <br />immediately north of and adjacent to the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) railroad grade <br />on a thin layer of Purgatoire River alluvial deposits capping bedrock sedimentary formations. <br />No intermittent, ephemeral, or perennial drainages cross the site. An intermittent arroyo <br />named Colorado Canyon arroyo borders the site on the eastern boundary. This arroyo flows <br />only during snowmelt episodes in the spring or from storm runoff after summer thunderstorms. <br />Climate at the loadout is similar to that of the mine site, but slightly dryer due to reduced <br />elevation. <br />All soils and native vegetation have been previously removed from the loadout site. Weeds <br />and volunteer species persist, especially on the fringes of the disturbance. The site has no <br />natural wildlife habitat and the site is fenced to prevent access of domestic animals and big <br />game. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />Of the 3,585 acres originally permitted at the New Elk Mine, 155 acres were already disturbed <br />for working areas and facilities. Permit Revision #1 added 120 acres to the permit area, of <br />which 36 acres were affected by new, proposed surface facilities. The resulting permit area <br />encompassed 3,705 acres with 191 acres of surface disturbance. No disturbed acreage has <br />been fully released from bond as of January 2011. A large area south of Highway 12 was <br />released of further liability as per Division written policy for release of areas overlying <br />underground workings(SL-01). Included in this area are two small areas of surface <br />disturbance, the Apache Canyon ventilation shafts, which were transferred to the Golden <br />Eagle mine permit, #C-81-013. The resulting permit area totaled about 900 acres. In 2006, <br />the Division approved a Phase I bond release for 35.14.acres at the mine site (SL-02). <br />Technical Revision No. 50, approved in 2009, added 698 acres to the permit area to include <br />both the upper and the lower Apache Canyon ventilation shafts( previously transferred to the <br />Golden Eagle mine) back into the New Elk permit area. The vast majority of the 698 acres <br />added was necessary only to include the gate road development from the portal to each shaft <br />location. Only two acres of the 698 acres are classified as disturbed. <br />The existing operation at the time of original permitting consisted of several benches used for <br />5