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<br />Vegetation <br />Energy Fuels plans to revcgeLite [hc permit aruw by =ceding with v mirturc u_` <br />approximstely 80 perr_ent native and 20 percent introduced species.. In <br />addition to the seed mi>a ore, the company .:ill tra.^.splant frees and shrubs and <br />p1anC tubelings and bare-root stock. The company }ias agreed to establish <br />vegetation reference areas and to sample vegetation to compare reference areas <br />eaith corresponding premining .-ante sites. Statistical comparisons affil be <br />made by September 19°O. Success of revegetated areas Gill be evaluated for <br />soils, slope, aspect, range condition, and statistical comparisons with <br />premining vegetation. The company will ma}:e statistical comparisons between <br />premining and ,proposed reference areas using percent co•:er and production, To <br />assure vegetation success, the reculatory authorit}' is stipulating that <br />diversity be compared also. In addition, [I~e company must ma4:e statistical <br />comparisons between postmining revegetation and reference areas using percent <br />cover, production, and diversity to measure tl,e success of re vegetation for <br />bond release. Engrg. Fuels will mar,:ge the revcgetated areas throug,irout [he <br />liability period. <br />Adverse impacts fro- the proposed operation •ai11 include .: loss cf vegutation <br />and, hence, wildlife habitat on I,E00 acres du -; ;i5 :pining and for a short <br />period after miring. Some small, less mobile ~:ildlife species will be Filled, <br />and other species wilt be displaced until a stable community similar to the <br />premining community is established. Long-term ir..pacts will include the <br />destruction of a lnw sagebrush range site (?% o= the total area to be mired) <br />and a unique community of aspen (17% of the total area to be mined) used as ar <br />elk calving ground. :;o [h of these sites occur r,n mallow soil (bedroc4: is <br />within 20 inches o' the surface) that is underlain by sandstone, which <br />pro hibi[s growth of deep-rooted plan[ specir_s. Tne low sagebrush commur,icy <br />will be replaced b•: a community of species (grass-rnrbes-shrubs)`rom the <br />range site seed mi>: that includes big sagebrush. <br />The aspen range site associated with the historic elk calving ground is an <br />open aspen stand that provides forage of high nutrient value necessary for <br />lactating elk. Guying mining, [he company will n[tempt to relocate the elk <br />ca leing ground to an adjacent area. After mining, Energy Fuels will try to <br />re-establish the historic calving ground b;• seeding and by planting aspens. <br />Over a long period of time, OSM staff believe shrub species will encroach on <br />[he site because the replaced soil will be deeper titan the soil that e>:ists <br />now and will no longer he prohibitive to growth of deep-roofed plant species <br />(sandstone bedrock will be gone). Most impacts to ;. he elk will occur during <br />the destruction and the first relocation of the calving ground. (See fish and <br />wildlife section for discussion of impacts to elk.) <br />- '- 5 - <br />