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Soils <br /> Topsoil at Coal Basin is limited. Only a thin veneer of topsoil exists on <br /> the steep side slopes of the canyons. What topsoil is available is <br /> generally found in the valley bottoms and areas with low to moderate <br /> slopes. Even where soils are relatively deep, salvage is often difficult <br /> because of large amounts of rock fragments. <br /> Since the Coal Basin mines were opened prior to the Surface Mining Control <br /> and Reclamation Act of 1977, no topsoil was salvaged on most of the <br /> disturbed area. The areas where topsoil is currently being salvaged <br /> include the sediment ponds, the rock tunnel waste disposal area, and the <br /> refuse pile extension area. Topsoil for reclamation of the mine benches <br /> will be salvaged from a topsoil borrow area near Mine No. 3. <br /> Fish and Wildlife <br /> The wildlife population of Coal Basin is diverse. The west and south <br /> slopes of Huntsman Ridge, which overlies the underground workings, are <br /> summer habitat for deer, elk, and small game species. The high elevation <br /> precludes use of 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 <br /> include goshawk, red tailed hawk, gray jay, white crowned sparrows, <br /> blackcapped chickadees, pine grosbeaks, tree swallows, Williamson's <br /> sapsucker and robins. No threatened or endangered species inhabit Coal <br /> Basin. <br /> Vegetation <br /> Vegetation zones within Coal Basin include lower montane, upper montane, <br /> subalpine, and alpine. Vegetation units identified within and adjacent to <br /> the permit area include aspen woodland, aspen shrubland, spruce-fir <br /> parkland, spruce-fir forest, oak shrubland, thurber fescue meadow, alpine <br /> fellfield, alpine meadow, riparian woodland, and ponderosa pine woodland. <br /> The three major vegetation types within the disturbed area are aspen <br /> woodland, aspen shrubland, and spruce-fir parkland. <br /> The aspen woodland vegetation type occurs primarily on the crests, and <br /> flanks of east-west ridges and along drainages. The aspen shrubland <br /> vegetation type occurs on south-facing slopes along the Coal Creek <br /> drainage and near the prep plant. The spruce-fir parkland vegetation type <br /> occurs primarily on the cool north-facing slopes and along ridgelines. <br /> Socioeconomics <br /> In 1979, the Mid-Continent Resources, Inc. employed 505 people and <br /> provided a yearly payroll of $13.5 million. Mid-Continent also paid over <br /> $400,000 in property tax payments to Garfield and Pitkin Counties. <br /> -6- <br />