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NOTICE OF INTENT TO EXPLORE INVOLVING REh[O VAL OF 250 TONS OR LESS OF COAL STOVE CANYON COAL EXPLORATION PLAN AREA PAGE S The vegetation is a greasewood -shrubland community. The Glendive series is a member of the coarse-loamy, mixed (calcareous), frigid family of Ustic Torrifluvents. The Havre series consists of deep, moderately fine textured, well-drained soils. These soils formed in alluvium derived from sandstone and shale. Annual precipitation is about 10 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 40° to 47° F, and the frost- free period is 105 to 135 days. The native vegetation is a greasewood -shrubland community. The Havre series is a member of the fine-loamy, mixed (calcareous), frigid family of Ustic Torrifluvents. The Nihill series consists of deep, moderate-textures, well to somewhat excessively drained soils. These soils formed in colluvium derived from sandstone. Annual precipitation is about 10 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 47° tc 57° F, and the frost-free period is 105 to 135 days. The vegetation is a greasewood- shrubland orjuniper-woodland community. The Nihill series is a member of the loamy- skeletal, mixed (calcareous), mesic family of Ustic Torriorthents. The Rivra variant consists of deep, moderately textured, well-drained soils. These formed in mixed alluvium. Annual precipitation is about 10 inches. The mean annual soil temperature ranges from 40° to 47° F, and the frost-free period is 90 to 135 days. The native vegetation is agreasewood-shrubland community. The Rivra variant is a member of the Loamy-skeletal, mixed, frigid family of Ustic Torrifluvents. Vegetation The proposed XPA and surrounding area is characterized by five vegetation types. They include a Greasewood shrubland, Big Sagebrush shrubland, Shadscale shrubland, Juniper Woodland and Mountain shrubland. There are no known state or federally listed threatened or endangered plant species on the proposed XPA. Greasewood shrubland A Greasewood shrubland vegetation type occurs on the flat terrain of the XPA. The major soil type in this vegetation type is the Glendive sandy loam, a deep, well drained, medium textured soil. The Havre loam, a deep, well drained, medium-fine textured soil is also common. This latter soil is very sodic and moderately saline, characteristics often associated with greasewood vegetation types. This Greasewood shrubland is a climax vegetation type. Plant species common to Greasewood shrubland vegetation type include; trees, shrubs and subshrubs, graminoids, fortis, and succulents. Ants are a major factor in the ecology of this Greasewood shrubland vegetation type, affecting vegetation and soil cover. Large circular shaped bare spots, 3 to 10 meters in diameter and stripped of vegetation by ants occur with symmetric spacing throughout the vegetation type.