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Wildlife <br />Canyon walls in the permit area provide potential raptor nesting sites, and peregrine falcon nesting has been <br />documented in the permit area in recent years. The river is used by waterfowl during migration, wintering and <br />nesting seasons. Western portions of the permit area provide winter range for mule deer, and overlap a portion <br />of a federally designated wild horse management area. <br />During winter months, bald eagles have been observed along the Colorado River through DeBeque Canyon. <br />Four species of threatened or endangered fish may potentially inhabit the Colorado River in this area. These <br />are the bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and humpback chub.. <br />Additional information on the wildlife in the area can be found in Tab 11 of the permit application. <br />Land Use <br />Due to the long mining history of the area, and existence of the Cameo Power Plant adjacent to the North <br />Portal mine facilities, current land use along the river and I -70 corridor in the mine vicinity is industrial. <br />Wildlife habitat is the primary use on adjacent dry uplands and tributary canyons. The post - mining land use <br />for the permitted area is wildlife habitat, with the exception that the Division approved, within Permit Revision <br />No. 3, a postmining land use of "Industrial or Commercial" for a designated portion of the disturbed area <br />within the South Portals facility area. Also with Permit Revision No. 4, the Division proposes to approve a <br />postmining land use of "Industrial or Commercial" for the entire Unit Train Loadout area as shown on Exhibit <br />63 of the permit application package. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />The general description of mine operations can be found in Tab 12 of the application; the reclamation plan in <br />Tab 14. <br />Mining by modern underground methods began in the permit area in 1974. Between 1974 and December <br />1999, when operations ceased, a total of 3,281 acres were affected by underground workings (including surface <br />area encompassed by the projected 12 degree subsidence angle of draw). Total surface disturbance associated <br />with the mining and reclamation operation is approximately 243 acres. Since December 1999, activity has <br />been limited to reclamation, maintenance, and monitoring. The only operational activity approved is storage <br />and rail loading and unloading of construction materials at the unit train loadout. At present, mine portals <br />have been sealed and extensive reclamation work has been performed. The approved permit does not include <br />plans to reinitiate mining, and no future disturbance of previously undisturbed areas is proposed. Cameo <br />Refuse Disposal Area No. 3 (CRDA -3) and ancillary facilities had been proposed prior to mine closure, and <br />were to be constructed in Coal Canyon, west of CRDA -1. Disturbance associated with the facilities did not <br />occur, and the permit has been amended to clarify that the facilities are no longer proposed or approved. Final <br />reclamation is to be completed in all areas by the end of 2009. <br />The reader is referred to the Division's February 10, 2000 Findings of Compliance Document for a discussion <br />of the mining methods employed during active operations. <br />Sediment Control System <br />Permit Revision No. 5 10 July 10, 2012 <br />