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<br />•7 <br />I <br />.~ <br />.i <br /> <br />shrubland (Artemisia tridentata), and patchy grassland inciuslons. <br />Apart from the White River south of the mine location, open water is <br />scarce In the vicinity of the study area, The only permanent or <br />semi-permanent bodies of water are occasional livestock reservoirs, <br />Rimrock Is a common feature at the east end of the corridor and near <br />the mine area, but the topography tends to flatten and decrease <br />gradually In elevation toward the west (grading from approximately <br />5700 to 5000 feet). The west end of the railroad corridor is a much <br />more and and sparsely vegetated environment consisting primarily of <br />dry grassland and sagebrush (Atrlolex canescens). For details of <br />vegetation and soils see Olgelrson (1981) and Sommers (1981). <br />Domestic sheep are grazed throughout most of the corridor and mine <br />area, No Irrigated agricultural Lands are present, <br />From a regional perspective, the environment of the study area <br />Is rather typical of nearby areas of similar elevation, Common big <br />game species include pronghorn antelope (Antelocaora americans) and <br />mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), Raptorial birds commonly seen <br />include red-tailed hawks ( uteo ~amalcensis), Ferruginous hawks <br />( uteo reaalis), and golden eagles ( ul a chrvsaetos), Sage grouse <br />(Centrocercus uroohastanus) are occasionally encountered at the east <br />end of the corridor and near the mine area where big sagebrush Is <br />more abundant, Canmon nongame species Include white-tailed prairie <br />dogs ( nom s leucurus) and coyotes ( anls latrans), Songbirds tend <br />not to be numerous or diverse due to arld conditions and the absence <br />of well developed riparian habitat, <br />2 <br />