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<br />-19- <br />XI1. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10. 2.05.4(2)(e) and 4.15 <br />Pre-disturbance vegetation conditions are described on page 2.04-14 and <br />the revegetation plan is presented on pages 2.05-10 through 2.05-14. <br />The pre-disturbance vegetation in the permit area and vegetation existing <br />adjacent to the permit area is predominantly irrigated agricultural <br />crops, including fruit orchards with an understory of pasture grasses and <br />irrigated pastureland. <br />Upon final grading and topsolling, the applicant proposes to reseed with <br />adapted grasses and fortis to achieve a post-mine land use of irrigated <br />pastureland. <br />The application indicates that a 1.2 acre comparison area has been <br />established in an irrigated pasture immediately west of the permit area. <br />Production information based on tons per acre of hay production from the <br />comparison area will be the standard for revegetation success. For <br />informational purposes, the applicant has agreed to submit 1983 <br />production data from the comparison area to the Division. The Division <br />has verified in the field that the comparison area is topographically and <br />edaphically comparable to the disturbed area. <br />Revegetation success will be determined on the basis of data collected <br />the final two years of the bond liability period to both the reclaimed <br />and comparison areas. Reclaimed and comparison areas will receive <br />similar management, including equivalent amounts of irrigation water in <br />those years. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />Based on the fact that naturally occurring vegetation communities had <br />been displaced by agricultural activities prior to construction of the <br />load-out, the Division finds, pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n), that the <br />proposed operation will not affect the continued existence of any <br />threatened or endangered species. <br />XI11. Fish and Wildlife - Rules 2.04.11, 2.05.6(2) and 4.18 <br />Fish and wildlife resources information is presented on pages 2.94-18 <br />through 2.04-17 and the fish and wildlife plan is on pages 2.05-17 <br />through 2.05-19 of the application. <br />Due to the pre-mine land use of orchard land and the small size of the <br />disturbance, no significant impacts to wildlife are anticipated. The <br />permit area and adjacent farmlands receive incidential use by a number of <br />wildlife species throughout the year, but the permit area does not <br />constitute critical habitat for any species. <br />