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<br />ESCO Associates Inc. was contracted by Peabody Western Coal Company (PWCC) in July <br />1990 to conduct baseline vegetation studies in areas encompassing PWCC's Yoast Mine, <br />hereinafter referred to as the Yoast Baseline Survey Area (Exhibit 10-1, Sheet 1). The <br />area is located about eight miles southeast of Hayden, in Routt County, Colorado. The <br />purpose of these studies was collection of vegetation baseline data to support a permit <br />application needed to develop mining and support facilities at the proposed Yoast Mine. Field <br />studies were initiated on July 12, 1990 and were concluded on August 4, 1990. <br />Subsequently, in July, 1992, ESCO was contracted by PWCC to conduct additional baseline <br />vegetation studies within the 1990 study area, in areas to the north and west of the 1990 <br />study area, and along a corridor associated with the proposed haul road route that extended <br />north and then east to Routt County Road 27 (Exhibit 10-1, Sheets 1 and 2). Information <br />collected in 1992 in these areas was intended to supplement data collected in 1990 and <br />provide baseline data for previously unstudied areas such as the haul road corridor. The <br />1992 study area is referred to below as the Yoast Supplemental Study Area. <br />• METHODS <br />Study Areas and Sam~g Locations <br />The study area and sampling units encompassing the mine area and haul road corridor are <br />shown on 6chibit 10-1, °Vegetation Map', Sheets 1 and 2. The mine area is shown on Sheet <br />2 and the haul road corridor is shown on Sheet 1. Within these study areas, the PWCC- <br />specified number of samples were located randomly using numbered grid cells and random <br />numbers taken from a random numbers table. These sites were located as accurately as <br />possible in the field. Final location of production quadrats was accomplished with a blind <br />throw; cover and density sample transects were located and oriented using a blind throw of a <br />meter stick. <br />Cover data were collected using apoint-intercept method in which data were tabulated as <br />interceptions of a point (optically projected using aCover-point Model 3) with plant <br />species, soil, litter, or rock. The sample, taken at the randomly selected location, consisted <br />of 50 projected points spaced at 1 m intervals along a randomly oriented 50 m transect. <br />1 <br />