2015-11-16_PERMIT FILE - M2007058

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EXHIBIT B — Site Description (a) Soils and vegetation: The 8.14 acre site is located in northeastern Moffat County, Colorado in the nominal NE/4 of Section 21T12N R89W. Average annual precipitation in the area ranges from 10 to 14 inches. All of the soil within the proposed permit area, as mapped and described by the U.S.D.A: Soil Conservation Service in this area of Moffat County, consists of soils belonging to the Ustorthents, Fridgid — Borolls Complex, 25 — 75 % slopes. These soils at the site are very well drained and have very little water holding capacity. Soil depth is shallow and thin and grades to un -weathered bedrock. Permeability is slow and runoff is high. Due to the steep slopes and limited soils and vegetation the area is unsuitable for livestock grazing although wildlife and livestock do occasionally use some of the side and upper slope areas. There is very little topsoil/surface soil at the site. The proposed mine area is predominately weathered sandstone outcrop and bedrock and has been assigned a "none" rating as an ecological site by the NRCS. A representative soil profile consists of a surface layer of (0-3") very channery sandy loam, underlain (3 — 28") by a channery to extremely channery sandy/clayey loam underlain by weathered and un -weathered bedrock. A Soil Type Map of the area and copies of the various soil type descriptions for other soils in the area are attached to this exhibit. There are three distinct vegetation communities found at the Sheehan Pit site. The first is characterized by the shallow to very shallow loam soils on the upper 1/3 slopes and ridges. On these soils vegetation is predominately Bluebunch Wheatgrass, Indian Ricegrass, Stemless Goldenweed and Wyoming Big Sagebrush. On north facing slopes Mountain Mahogany and Skunkbush Sumac are present. The second plant community is described as mountain shrub. It is found on deeper loam soils formed from eroded soils from the upper slopes. This community has a large component of Saskatoon Seviceberry, Mountain Big Sagebrush, Snowberry, and Chokecherry with some herbaceous under story of Columbia Needlegrass, Green needlegrass, Western Wheatgrass and some other forbs. The final vegetative community type is in the overflow areas that receive additional runoff from adjacent slopes. These areas are found in the draws and gullies lying between the rock faces and scarps. The dominant vegetation is Basin Wild -rye, with lesser components of Western and Slender Wheatgrass, Wild Rose, Lupine and other minor forbs The previous 3 acre site covered under DMG 110 Reclamation Permit #M-1994-022 disturbed approximately 1.34 acres. This area was reclaimed using the DMG recommended methods and a seed mix consisting of the following: Bluebunch Wheatgrass, Western Wheatgrass, Crested Wheatgrass and Indian Ricegrass. A copy of the DRM&S recommendation is attached in the Exhibit D — Reclamation Plan Any and all topsoil and/or suitable surface material including some possible crusher fines will be reserved along the site perimeter and at other convenient locations in the operations area. Soils covering the equipment staging and operations area and any product or topsoil stockpile areas will be stripped and reserved for site reclamation and stockpiled in areas along edges of the operations area for use in future reclamation activities.