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-31- <br /> X. CLIMATOLOGICAL INFORMATION AND AIR RESOURCES (2.04.8, 2.05.4(2) (h) , <br /> 2.05.6(1) , 4.17) <br /> Climatological data for the North Fork region is available from Paonia, 3 <br /> miles due South and 1,500 feet lower in elevation than the mine site. Infor- <br /> mation is presented on pages 110-133, Section 2.04 of Volume 8 and in the <br /> Climatology and Wind Direction appendices of Volume 4. The average annual <br /> temperature is 49.00F at Paonia, with an average monthly mean of 24.50F in <br /> January and 71.90F in July. At Paonia, the annual precipitation averages <br /> 14.9 inches with a range of normal monthly precipitation of 0.8 to 1.50 inches. <br /> The local climate of the North Fork airshed is strongly influenced by micro- <br /> climatic features - slope aspect, elevation, soil type, soil moisture content <br /> and vegetation. The steepness of the terrain, together with it's type and <br /> amount of vegetation, orientation and range of elevation, are the major controls <br /> of the diurnal wind patterns. The shape and orientation of the North Fork <br /> valley is such that the drainage (or katabatic) flow is the dominant flow for <br /> most hours of the day. Prevailing winds are from the south-southeast, with <br /> wind speeds of 10 miles per hour occuring in June. Below Paonia, the wind <br /> speed appears to decrease sharply as the air spreads over the lower valley. <br /> Because of this strong drainage wind, frost pockets are not allowed to form, <br /> thus creating a favorable microclimate for fruit tree farming. <br /> Colorado Westmoreland, Inc. has provided copies of the Emissions Permits from <br /> the Colorado Departpent of Health, found in the Air ()uality appendix of Volume <br /> 4. There were no concerns raised regarding climatology and air resources <br /> during the review, and the proposed operation is in compliance. <br /> X.T. TOPSOIL (2.04.9, 2.05.3(5) , 2.05.4(2) (d) , 4.06) <br /> Soils within those portions of the permit area which have been or will be dis- <br /> turbed by surface operations and facilities are generally deep, well-drained, <br /> and vary widely in slope. Permeability values are low, thus encouraging surface <br /> runoff. As a result, the water erosion hazard is often high. Generally, <br /> available water capacities are high, reflecting the potential of these soils <br /> to store water for plant use. Topsoil layers are shallow, ran gin g from about <br /> 2-8"; surface textures are generally loams or clay loams with subsoils <br /> ranging from clay loams to clays. Basaltic cobbles and stones are common <br /> throughout the profiles of most soils. The general area is quite susceptible <br /> to landslides, especially in the steeper topography of the mine bench area, <br /> and as such, the continual sloughing of colluvial material in this area impairs <br /> horizon development. Information on soils can be found in Section 2.04.9 of <br /> Volume 8, Sections 2.05.3(5) and 2.05.4(2) (d) of Volume 8A, and in the Soils <br /> appendix of Volume 3. The soils maps can be found as Maps 7A and 7B of Volume 5. <br /> At the time the mine site was constructed during October, 1975, no topsoil was <br /> salvaged during construction of the mine benches as this operation was conducted <br /> prior to passage of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Act of 1976. How- <br /> ever, soils analysis of the existing bench material (see the Soils Tests appendix <br /> in Volume 3) indicates that this material is suitable as a plant growth medium. <br /> this is also true of the storage and loadout facilities where no topsoil was <br /> salvaged during construction. Analysis of adjacent material indicates good <br /> �'. �� suitability as a plant growth medium. For all future disturbance proposed at <br />