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it joints with Mesa and Delta Counties. Given the total absence of "rocky hills, mesa slopes, and <br />alluvial benches; in desert shrub communities," in the NHN Mine permit area, it is highly <br />unlikely that this plant would occur on this site. <br />Examination of the Colorado Rare Plant Field Guide - 2002 supplement, addresses the potential <br />occurrence of three additional species of potential Rare or Endangered Plants which could <br />potentially occur on the NHN Mine permit area are presented in the following discussion. <br />Adobe thistle. This species is reported to occupy habitats consisting of "open areas and <br />disturbed sites in mixed shrublands and pinyon juniper woodlands. Elev. 5000-8000 ft." <br />According to the distribution maps, the closest occurrence of this species to the proposed project <br />site is approximately 35 miles to the north in the extreme northern portion of Montrose County, <br />where it joints with Mesa and Delta Counties. Given the complete absence of "mixed shrublands <br />and pinyon juniper woodlands," in the NHN Mine permit area, it is highly unlikely that this plant <br />would occur on this site. <br />Good -neighbor bladdernod This species occurs in habitats between "Elev. 5800-7500 ft." <br />According to the distribution maps, the closest occurrence of this species to the proposed project <br />site is approximately 50 miles to the east in the Uncompahgre Valley in the extreme southeastern <br />portion of Montrose County, where it joints with Ouray County. Given the great distance <br />between the NHN Mine permit area and these sites, it is highly unlikely, if not impossible, that <br />this plant would occur on this site. <br />Aromatic Indian breadroot. This species occupies habitats consisting of "open pinyon juniper <br />woodlands, in sandy soils or adobe hills. Elev. 4800-5700 ft." According to the distribution <br />maps, the closest occurrence of this species to the proposed project site is approximately 40 <br />miles to the west in the extreme western portions of Montrose County, where it joints with the <br />Utah line. Given the total absence of "open pinyon juniper woodlands, in sandy soils or adobe <br />hills," in the NHN Mine permit area, it is highly unlikely that this plant would occur on this site. <br />CONCLUSIONS <br />At the New Horizon North Mine permit area, intensive vegetation studies were conducted on six <br />potential predisturbance vegetation types. As summarized in Table 2.04.10-2, a significant <br />number of samples relative to total plant cover were collected on each of these six predisturbance <br />vegetation types to adequately describe these sites. Sample adequacy was achieved for total <br />Section 2.04.10 Page 35 of 36 June 2016 (TR -14) <br />