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Five <br />2.04.10 Vegetation Baseline Information <br />1. The applicant's vegetation map does not meet the map requirements <br />of 2.10 (conveying all information set forth on the U.S.G.S. quad <br />7.5 minute sheet). The submitted aerial photograph does not de- <br />lineate the permit area, nor provide sufficient adjacent area to <br />allow evaluation of vegetation as important wildlife habitat. The <br />vegetation reference areas are not Zocated on the vegetation map. <br />Additionally, vegetation sampling locations need to be located on <br />the vegetation map. <br />2. The vegetation study prepared by Stoecker-Keammerer mentions refer- <br />ence areas were established for grassland and big sagebrush com- <br />munities. These must be located on the vegetation map. <br />3. The applicant must describe the technique for visual estimation ~ <br />of herbaceous cover in the vegetation studies. <br />4. The applicant interchangeably refers to "control" areas and <br />"reference" areas. Bove the areas for vegetative community com- <br />pa~isons been established as "control areas" (per Wyoming DEQ) <br />or "reference areas" (per Colorado regulation)? <br />5. At what date was vegetative cover data field sampled? <br />6. The applicant should define how directional orientation for the <br />Lindsey Mine-strip was achieved. <br />7. The term semi-shrub needs to be defined in the context of the <br />vegetation analysis. <br />8. Tables 4 and 5 do not document production for annual forbs, though <br />the applicant has indicated that annual forbs were sampled for <br />production (page 3). This information should be provided. <br />9. Figure 1 referenced in the Stoecker-Keammerer study is not <br />present. This should be provided. <br />10. For each vegetation type the applicant must provide a qualita- <br />tive discussion of the environmental factors affecting the dis- <br />tribution of the communities in the permit area. <br />11. Reference areas must be statistically comparable to the equivalent <br />area to be disturbed (9.15.7(3)(b). The Colorado reyulations make <br />no provision for the control area comparison method employed by <br />Wyoming D.E.Q. and proposed by the applicant (page 16). The <br />applicant must establish a comparable reference area for the dry <br />grassland vegetation type. <br />12. The applicant has made an erroneous contention that all reference <br />areas must be within the mine permit area. The Division may approve <br />acceptable reference areas outside of the permit area provided they <br />meet the requirements of 4.15.7(3)(c-f). <br />13. The applicant should provide confidence levels achieved for alZ <br />statistical comparisons. <br />