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Specific site surveys were conducted to ascertain the presence of and potential impacts on <br />threatened or endangered wildlife species. The field surveys did not identify any such species, or <br />predict any such impacts. <br />Description of the Operation and Reclamation Plans <br />Detailed information regarding the operation and reclamation plans for the Bowie No. 2 Mine is <br />presented in Section 2.05 of the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit application document. Section 2.05 of <br />the permit also contains numerous references to maps and other information related to the Bowie <br />No. 2 Mine operations and reclamation plans, which are contained in various sections of the <br />permit application document volumes. The following summary is derived from the information <br />presented in the Bowie No. 2 Mine permit application document. <br />The Bowie No. 2 Mine is a coal mine, and the coal was originally extracted using the room and <br />pillar mining method. Retreat mining of some of these sections has occurred. Approval of <br />Permit Revision No. 3 allowed the mining method to change to longwall mining. The <br />construction of a coal wash plant was approved in Technical Revision No. 27. Approval of <br />Permit Revision No. 7 permitted the construction of support facilities in order to mine the B -2 <br />coal seam. The initial mine plan approval to mine the B -2 coal seam was obtained through <br />Permit Revision No. 8. In Permit Revision No. 9, the B -2 coal seam mine plan was amended. A <br />third panel was projected in the west section of the mine. The permit boundary was expanded to <br />encompass the entire Federal coal lease (COC 61209) boundary and two proposed lease <br />modification areas. No mining under Terror Creek was proposed. <br />The D -2 coal seam was accessed from three (3) entries which were constructed at an elevation of <br />6880 feet above sea level. This is the elevation where the D -2 coal seam generally outcrops, <br />within the Bowie No. 2 permit area, and this elevation is approximately 800 feet above the old <br />State Highway 133. The main entries were driven down -dip to the north, with the sub -mains <br />being driven east and west from the mains. <br />The B -2 coal seam is currently being accessed through three (3) mine entries. The B -2 coal seam <br />portals are located below and just to the east of the D -2 coal seam portals, at an approximate <br />elevation of 6630 feet. The development mining and longwall mining of the B -2 coal seam were <br />approved in Permit Revision No. 8. The B -2 coal seam mine plan was amended in Permit <br />Revision No. 9. Mining of the B -2 seam was subsequently expanded with Permit Revisions 10, <br />11, and 12. Permit Revision No. 13 will further expand B -2 seam mining and reorient the <br />longwall panels. <br />Currently, total annual coal production has been capped at 6 million tons per year. <br />The mine facilities have been constructed near the old Bowie townsite. Construction has <br />occurred to develop haul and access roads, a conveyor belt system, mine and facility benches, <br />vent shafts, a truck loadout facility, a refuse pile, and various drainage and sediment control <br />facilities. Approval of Permit Revision No. 3 added a downhill conveyor, coal stockpile and coal <br />12 <br />