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-49- <br /> The proposed operation is in compliance with all applicable wildlife <br /> requirements. <br /> XIII. Prime Farmlands - Rules 2.04.12, 2.06.6 and 4.25 <br /> The Division has made a negative determination on the presence of prime <br /> farmlands within the proposed permit area. The decision was based on the <br /> evidence provided by the Soil Conservation Service that there are no <br /> prime farmlands within the proposed permit area because of short growing <br /> seasons and cool temperatures. This evidence can be found in Section <br /> III-J of Volume 6 of the application. <br /> The Division, therefore, finds the operation in compliance with Rule <br /> 2.07.6(2)(k) with respect to prime farmlands. <br /> XIV. Operations Description - Rules 2.05.2, 2.05.3(1 ) , 2.05.3(2) <br /> and 4.0 <br /> The operations plan in Chapter II, Volumes 1 , 2, and 3 of the application <br /> has been reviewed for compliance by the Division. <br /> The Coal Basin operations include five adjacent underground mines. All <br /> are drift mines, driven from the outcrop down-dip through the western <br /> flank of Coal Basin and under Huntsman Ridge. These mines are <br /> interconnected underground and actually make up one mine complex with <br /> five entries. When the rock tunnel is completed in about 1984, all coal <br /> from both minable seams will be brought to the surface through one bore <br /> of the tunnel . At that time, the Coal Basin operation will, in fact, be <br /> a singl e 3j� <br /> The present mines or entries, from north to south, are: <br /> Coal Basin (No. 5) Mine <br /> L.S. Wood (No. 3) Mine <br /> Dutch Creek (No. 2) Mine <br /> Dutch Creek (No. 1) Mine <br /> Bear Creek (No. 4) Mine <br /> Coal is produced from two seams: The Coal Basin seam, or "B" bed, in <br /> which the Coal Basin (No. 5) , L.S. Wood (No. 3) , Dutch Creek (No. 1 ) , and <br /> Bear Creek (No. 4) ,nines are located; and the Dutch Creek Seam, or <br /> ",Middle" bed, which lies stratigraphically 450' above and "B" bed, and in <br /> wnich the Dutch Creek (No. 2) mine is located. <br /> The mine portals are located at elevations above 10,000 feet and the <br /> workings now extend to 3,000 feet. Mining conditions are difficult and <br /> adverse due to the 10 to 15 degree dip of the coal seams, the extreme <br /> depth of the seams, numerous geological faults throughout the area, and <br /> the existence of large amounts of methane gas. <br />