2011-03-18_PERMIT FILE - C1981044A (3)

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2.04 APPLICATION FOR PERMIT FOR SURFACE OR UNDERGROUND MINING ACTIVITIES- MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR INFORMATION ON ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES • 2.04.1 OBJECTIVES This section of the permit provides in detail a complete and accurate description of the environmental resources that either have been or may be impacted or affected by the underground mining activities conducted by MCM. It should be noted that the operator name was changed in 2010 to Moffat County Mining, LLC, so any references to BTU Empire, BTU -EC, or EC, refer to the current operator. The Mine designation was also changed at the same time to Williams Fork Mines, so any references to Eagle Mines or Eagle No. 5, 6, and /or 9 Mines, refer to the current mine designation. 2.04.3 GENERAL REQUIREMENTS: SITE DESCRIPTION AND LAND USE INFORMATION The location of the premining land uses within the permit and adjacent areas for the MCM mining operation can be found on the Pre - Mining Land Use Map (Map 3). Although a portion of the permit and adjacent areas has been previously mined by both surface and underground coal mining techniques, the present basic land use within the permit and adjacent area is rangeland and cropland. A few scattered homes were found within the adjacent area, particularly in the area known as "Empire Village "; however, "Empire Village" is owned by MCM, and all residences have been removed from the site. MCM has received a Special Use permit from Moffat County for their mining operations. This Special Use permit can be found in Exhibit 2, Other Required Permits. "Mined land" is found on much of the permit and adjacent area. This land use has not been included in land use categories as defined under the existing state regulations. "Mined land" is one of the major land uses within the MCM Permit boundary. This land use results from the fact that the permit area covers lands which have been previously subject to underground and surface coal mining operations. A summary of previous surface and underground mining operations is discussed later in this section. If the land use has changed within the last five (5) years; the past land use •is shown in the parenthesis. The United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service (previously SCS), conducted Class II soil surveys, vegetation surveys, and range evaluations in the vicinity of the MCM property. The results of these range conditions evaluations can be found on Table 1, Evaluation of Soil Conservation Service Range Data. In general, these evaluation areas are extensively used for grazing. 204.4 CULTURAL AND HISTORICAL RESOURCE INFORMATION There are no known cultural or historical resources listed, or eligible for listing, on the National Register of Historic Places within the MCM permit boundary. This conclusion is based on communications with the Colorado Historical Society, Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and on several archaeological surveys that have been conducted in the general area. No archaeological resources have been surveyed in the area of the MCM operation. An archaeological survey conducted by Dr. Joe Lischka, University of Colorado, conducted during June and July, 1975, is available for review and can be found in the Colowyo Permit No. C- 019 -81. This was an intensive archaeological survey conducted along the proposed and alternate W.R. Grace Railroad routes. MCM contracted Dr. Jennings to perform an archaeological survey of the surface areas of MCM's possessive federal coal leases in the summer of 1977. The results of this archaeological survey are presented in Exhibit 6, Cultural and Historical Resources Information. The following additional archaeological information has been provided by MCM for review in Exhibit 6, Cultural and Historical Resources Information: • Archaeological reconnaissance of proposed coal lease areas in Moffat, Rio Blanco, and Routt counties, Colorado • in 1975 by Christopher Arthur under the direction of Dr. Calvin Jennings. • Archaeological reconnaissance of the Utah International, Craig Underground Project 1977. This archaeological reconnaissance was conducted by Mr. Paul R. Williams and Dr. Calvin Jennings MR 10 -49 2.04 -1 02/01/11