2022-04-29_PERMIT FILE - C2010089 (9)

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Section 2.04.10 Page 6 of 36 December 2021 (RN-02) A detailed delineation of the vegetation types found within the NHN Permit Area is shown on Map 2.04.10-1, Permit Area Vegetation Map. This map shows the extent of all vegetation types to be affected by the mine facilities area, as well as the location of each vegetation transect location used to evaluate plant cover, herbaceous production as well as shrub density. The vegetation boundaries of all lands located within one-half mile of the NHN Mine permit area are shown on Map 2.04.10-1. Prior to commencing the field sampling efforts and during the preparation of this baseline vegetation monitoring report, the vegetation sampling requirements found in Rule 4.15.11 of the DRMS regulations were carefully reviewed and discussed with DRMS regarding the sampling methods and data analysis methods to be used. Agreement on the sampling methodology used in this evaluation as well as a proper understanding of the recently enacted regulatory amendments was obtained from the DRMS prior to initiating field sampling. In this evaluation, the vegetation parameters of production, plant cover, species diversity and shrub density were sampled. It is anticipated that these vegetation sampling efforts will be ultimately useful in revegetation success evaluations with respect to plant cover, herbaceous forage production, species diversity, and shrub density. Transect Locations To ensure that all of the areas within each corresponding pre-disturbance vegetation area or reference area being evaluated had an equal chance of being sampled, each vegetation type, consisting often of multiple polygons, was treated as a single sample unit and a totally randomized sampling effort was implemented. Utilizing the vegetation maps, the extreme north, south, east and west boundaries of each vegetation site sampled were converted to the 1983 Colorado State Plane South Zone (NAD 83) coordinate system. Given the typical real- time accuracy of GPS, of plus or minus one meter, all of the vegetation boundaries and sample transect locations were field located at a sub-meter accuracy. Once the boundaries of the vegetation disturbance areas or reference area were identified, then using a specially prepared computer program which generates random coordinates, the potential transect location coordinates were identified. These coordinates were then entered into the GPS unit and the transect location starting points were identified in the field. At each transect location starting point, the transect direction was determined by selecting a random direction based on the degrees of the compass (0 to 360O). Once the transect orientation was determined, then the 50- meter tape was laid out across the site. All transects were kept within the sample unit boundaries. In situations where the transect placement resulted in the transect alignment crossing a sample unit boundary, the transect line was backed up for that portion of which crossed the boundary