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Mike Long <br />Page 7 <br />4. Elevation and degree of slope also infleunce <br />vegetation to some extent. Steeper slopes typically <br />place soil restrictions on vegetation development <br />with respect to short term emergence. Areas <br />immediately south of the mine are steeper in slope <br />and higher in elevation than the mine site. At <br />the higher elevation, the predominant vegetation <br />type is Ponderosa Pine with some Douglas Fir. <br />Areas to the north of the mine are variable in <br />degree of slope, aspect and elevation. Elevation, <br />however, is typically in excess of that in the <br />immediate vicinity of the mine site. Those areas <br />are also typical of the wooded sites to the south <br />of the mine. Slope, aspect and elevation do not <br />seem to specifically dictate vegetational differences <br />in the immediate vicinity of the mine site. <br />Gambels Oak is the predominant vegetation type <br />throughout the area. Soil type also does not <br />limit vegetation distribution in the mine area. <br />Significant vegetation changes are not evident in <br />so much as carracas loam is the only soil type <br />found within the actual mining area. <br />Areas immediately east and west of the actual <br />mining area are relatively flat. Soil type in <br />these areas is obviously related to alluvial <br />deposition. In this instance the soil type is <br />Nunn loam. It is typically deeper and contains <br />more finer materials such as sand. In this case <br />environmental factors influencing vegetation type <br />and distribution would be expected to have some <br />bearing. However, these areas are predominantly <br />annual weeds due to overgrazing. <br />In short, environmental factors influence vegetation <br />distribution in areas surrounding the mine, however, <br />such factors do not influence said distribution in <br />the actual mining area to a great extent. <br />5. In accordance with the requirements of 4.15.7(3)(d) <br />and (e), reference areas for the portion of the <br />mined area which will be reclaimed to range land <br />will receive the same management as the reclaimed <br />areas. Grazing will be prevented on the reclaimed <br />areas except during the last two full years of the <br />extended liability period. <br />-, _\ <br />