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<br /> <br /> <br /> 12 <br />Suitability of the various soils for salvage was determined using criteria of the Wyoming <br />Department of Environmental Quality (WyDEQ) "Suitability Ratings for Soils as Sources of <br />Topsoil Material". All of the soils were rated "good" with respect to soil reactivity, electrical <br />conductivity, saturation percentage, sodium adsorption ration, Selenium, and Boron. Texturally, <br />the samples were classified as "good" to "fair". With respect to Moist and Dry Consistence, most <br />of the samples corresponded with the "good" to "fair" suitability classes. The most limiting <br />parameter, coarse fragment content, was estimated in the field and is recorded on the pedon forms. <br />Suitable depths of topsoil salvage for each test pit location, together with estimated salvage <br />volumes for each soil type, are shown on Map 2.04.9-3 of the application. <br /> <br />Vegetation - Section 2.04.10 of the permit <br /> <br />The natural vegetation in the Nucla area is pinyon-juniper woodland and sagebrush shrub land. <br />More than 100 years of intensive agriculture in the area has resulted in there being only scattered <br />remnants of the native vegetation types. Prior to agricultural conversion, sagebrush shrub lands <br />occupied the park-like areas with deeper soils and more gentle slopes, while the more broken <br />upland areas with shallow, coarse textured soils were occupied by the pinyon-juniper woodlands. <br /> <br />In the baseline survey, six major plant community types were delineated within the NHN area, as <br />shown on Map 2.04.10-1 Permit Area Vegetation Map. The six types are: Topsoiled Reclamation <br />(REC), Big Sagebrush (SB), Irrigated Pasture (IP), Dryland Pasture (DP), Intensively Managed <br />Irrigated Pasture (IMIP), and Wetlands (WET). The pre-mine area was intensively developed for <br />agricultural uses, and also includes minor acreages of roads, residential/agricultural disturbances, <br />and livestock ponds. <br /> <br />Following delineation of the plant community types, transects for sampling were generated. Plant <br />cover, production, and shrub density were evaluated along the transects. Vegetation sampling was <br />conducted for the mining area between October 2008 and August 2009, and for the equipment <br />corridor between August and November 2009. Reference areas intended for use in evaluating the <br />revegetation success of irrigated Pasture and Dryland Pasture were also sampled. The Intensively <br />Managed Irrigated Pasture on the Garvey property was sampled twice more, in June 2010 and June <br />2011, with the intention of using the historical production as the revegetation success standard for <br />this type. Map 2.04.10-2 shows the vegetation communities existing on lands surrounding the <br />permit area. <br /> <br />The potential for impacts to threatened or endangered plant species was investigated by ERMR, <br />and they conclude that the unique habitat types associated with these species are lacking for this <br />area. None of the species were encountered, and they determined that it is highly unlikely for them <br />to be found at the NHN Mine site. As new information becomes available which might change <br />status and direction of the wildlife resources, ERMR commits to consult with appropriate agencies <br />to modify the scope and focus of mitigation requirements contained in Section 2.05.6 of the permit. <br /> <br />Fish and Wildlife -Section 2.04.11 of the permit <br /> <br />A large variety of wildlife utilize the area surrounding the NHN including coyotes, fox, mule deer, <br />elk (in the winter) and numerous bird species. No federally listed threatened or endangered plant