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Rn(e 2.04 • methodologies are described in Appendixes G f+M while sample adequacy is discussed in Appendix G. [n general, the flora was representative of the mountain regions of northwestern Colorado. Most of the plant communities on the mine property were dominated by shrubs, except the aspen community which was dominated by large trees. The variety of shrub species generated several community types, each with somewhat different associations of forb and grass species. The diversity of forbs was high in most communities as a total of 48 species were found. The diversity of grasses and grass-like species was found to be lower than forbs as 22 species were found. Only two tree species and 12 shrub species were found. No rare or endangered species were found during the M-K nudy. In September 1981, M-K supplemented the 1980 study with additional field data collected in response to MLRD concerns regarding sample size and data adequacy. The additional data was provided in the form of an Addendum to Appendix G, Subsection 2, t/o/time //!, included in the original permit application. The additional data seemed to generally confirm the adequacy of the data previously collected in 1980. For ready reference, the 1980 and 1981 M-K vegetation studies are included as Appendix C to this document. The reports aze reproductions of the original reports found in Appendix G, Volume !!! of the original permit application. • 2.04.11 Fish and Wildlife Resources Studies of the wildlife and fish resources in the mine area were also completed by 3R Corporation in 1977 and are described in the report "Baseline Wildlife Inventory for the Proposed Hayden Gulch Mine, Routt County, Colorado" which is presented in Appendix H, Volume IV. Sampling and field inventory of the HG Mine encompassed the major habitat types of the permit area, which included the following vegetation types: aspen, oak, sagebrush•snowberry, chokecherry-snowberry, wet meadow, and serviceberry-chokecherry communities. Avifauna, mammals, fish and herpetofauna (amphibians and reptiles) were addressed. In addition, the distribution of such key species as Sage Grouse, Blue Grouse, Sharp-tailed Grouse, Band-tailed Pigeon, and Elk were addressed. The communities in which wildlife studies were conducted were representative of the entire mine permit and adjacent areas and therefore representative of those areas where impacts might reasonably have been expected to occur. No threatened or endangered animal species or critical habitat azeas were observed in the study area including and surrounding the mine. 2.04.12 Prime Farmland Investigation H-G Coal Company and the Soil Conservation Service in Steamboat Springs conducted a prime • farmland investigation which concluded the following: • Sections 30 and 31, Township SN, Range 88W of the 6th PM (the mine azea) have not been historically used as cropland. TQ-63 9~v/96 .,.. ..w.K 2.047 /J~z6~96 SuArniT'rnL