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<br /> The growing season is short. In the preparation plant area, the growing
<br /> season extends from May through September ( 170 days) , with about 90 frost-free
<br /> days. At the mine portals all above 10,000 feet in elevation, the growing
<br /> season extends from mid-May through mid-September (130 days) with only 60
<br /> frost-free days.
<br /> Vegetation zones within Coal Basin include lower montane, upper montane,
<br /> subalpine, and alpine. Vegetation units identified within and adjacent to the
<br /> permit area include aspen woodland, aspen shrubland, spruce-fir parkland,
<br /> spruce-fir forest, oak shrubland, meadow, alpine fellfield, alpine meadow,
<br /> riparian woodland, ponderosa pine woodland and mountain shrub. The five major
<br /> vegetation types within the disturbed area are aspen woodland, aspen
<br /> shrubland, spruce-fir parkland, mountain shrub and meadow type.
<br /> The aspen woodland vegetation type occurs primarily on the crests, and flanks
<br /> of east-west ridges and along drainages. The aspen shrubland vegetation type
<br /> occurs on south-facing slopes along the Coal Creek drainage and near the prep
<br /> plant. The spruce-fir parkland vegetation type occurs primarily on the cool
<br /> north-facing slopes and along ridgelines. The meadow vegetation type occurs
<br /> at the lower elevations adjacent to the streams. The mountain shrub type
<br /> occurs on the west facing slopes of Mancos shale ridges.
<br /> The wildlife population of Coal Basin is diverse. The west and south slopes
<br /> of Huntsman Ridge, which overlies the underground workings, are summer habitat
<br /> for deer, elk, and small game species. The high elevation precludes use of
<br /> Coal Basin for big game winter habitat.
<br /> Wildlife common to the area include elk, deer, black bear, mountain lion,
<br /> longtail weasel, porcupine, coyote, bobcat, pine marten, yellow bellied
<br /> marmot, chipmunk, pine squirrel , and snowshoe hare. Raptors and birds include
<br /> goshawk, red tailed hawk, gray jay, white crowned sparrows, blackcapped
<br /> chickadees, pine grosbeaks, tree swallows, Williamson's sapsucker, and
<br /> robins. No threatened or endangered species inhabit Coal Basin, although wild
<br /> turkey and mountain goat have been sighted.
<br /> Mining and Reclamation Plan
<br /> Mid-Continent operates the highest and deepest underground coal mines in North
<br /> America. Mine portals are located at elevations above 10,000 feet and the
<br /> depth of workings extend to 3,000 feet below the ground surface. Mining
<br /> conditions are difficult and adverse due to the 10-15 degree dip of the coal
<br /> seams, the extreme depth of the seams, numerous geological faults throughout
<br /> the area and the existence of large amounts of methane gas.
<br /> The Coal Basin operations include five adjacent underground mines. All are
<br /> drift mines, driven from the outcrop down-dip through the western flank of
<br /> Coal Basin and under Huntsman Ridge. These mines are interconnected
<br /> underground and actually make up one mine complex with five entries. When the
<br /> rock tunnel is completed, all coal from both minable seams will be brought to
<br /> the surface through one bore of the tunnel . At that time, the Coal Basin
<br /> operation will , in fact, be a single mine.
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