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• less than 10 acres in size and is restricted to its one location. <br />As can be seen upon examination of the sample data and the <br />enclosed species lists, all three major communities share a large <br />proportion of their species composition with each other. In fact, <br />a case could be made that the distinction between sagebrush <br />rangeland and native grassland is an arbitrary one. The species <br />composition of the grassland community is very similar to the <br />understory component of the sagebrush rangeland community except <br />that the herbaceous production of the latter is more patchy and <br />less developed than in the former. Soth have resulted from or <br />responded to management practices including plowing, chaining, and <br />herbicide spraying that have taken place since at least the early <br />1900's. The juniper-pinyon woodland areas that are projected to be <br />disturbed by mining operations are in part transitional to the <br />• sagebrush rangeland community. The more classic expression of <br />juniper-pinyon woodland occurs on steeper slopes. Finally, an area <br />on the crest of the southern part of the mine that has been sprayed <br />with herbicides and also seeded with Sand dropseed (Sporobolus <br />cryptandrus) was considered to be distinct from the native <br />grassland community because of its lesser quality and difference in <br />species composition. Quantitative data was collected describing <br />this community, though because it is only a minor community, this <br />was not necessary to comply with the Division's rules. The four <br />communities are described below. <br />- ~ - <br />• <br />