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Wildlife <br />Wildlife species identified within the permit area include mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), <br />pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra Americana), and sage grouse (Centrocercus urphasianus). <br />Numerous raptor species have been identified in the area. Species include the ferruginous hawk <br />(Buteo regalis), turkey vulture (Cathortes aura), marsh hawk (Cireus cyaneus), American kestrel <br />(Falco sparverius), sharp - shinned hawk (Accipter shiatus), burrowing owl (Spestyto <br />cunieulaira), red - tailed hawk (Buteo jamaicaensus), and golden eagle (Aquila chrysauetos). <br />Bald eagles (Hliaeetus leucocephalus) and peregrine falcons (Falco seregrinus) are known to <br />migrate through the area. Large white tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) towns exist in the <br />area of the refuse disposal sites and scattered throughout the permit area. <br />Land ITgeq <br />The major land uses in the area are fossil fuel production, ranching, forestry and agriculture. <br />Wildlife habitat and livestock grazing are the primary land uses on public lands. In the permit <br />area, the land is used as a winter range for sheep. Permits are issued to ranchers for the purpose <br />of livestock grazing. The average forage production potential on rangeland in the permit area is <br />about 12 -15 acres per animal. The land was utilized for grazing and wildlife habitat preceding <br />mining. <br />Description of the Mine Operation Plan <br />Sizes of Permit Area, Disturbed Area, and Production Volumes <br />Following the approval of Permit Revision 08, the permit area will cover approximately 13,646.3 <br />acres. Since mining began, cumulative surface disturbance will total 454.75 acres by the end of <br />this permit term (2014). The portion of the mine to be permitted under the current application is <br />projected to produce approximately 3,200,000 tons of run -of -mine coal per year or 16,162 tons <br />per working day. <br />Mining Method <br />Coal is mined at the Deserado Mine using underground mining methods. BME previously <br />extracted coal from the B and D coal seams by utilizing both room and pillar (with pillar <br />extraction) and longwall methods. D -Seam mining was completed, and B -Seam mining <br />commenced, in 1999. B -Seam mining will continue during the current permit term. The mine is <br />developed by driving a series of mains and sub -mains with continuous miners. These entries <br />serve as the arteries for coal conveying and ventilation. The mains and sub - mains, which will <br />remain open for the life of the mine, are supported by roof bolts. Additional support may include <br />timbers, steel arches, steel mats, steel mesh and shotcrete. <br />22 <br />