Laserfiche WebLink
encountered by bedrock drilling in the area is very salty and unsuitable for domestic use. There <br />is no shallow groundwater present a[ the proposed mine site due to the presence of solid rock <br />beneath [lie rock slides. The nearest identifiable shallow groundwater is in the alluvium along <br />Flag Creek about 1 mile east of the proposed mine site. This water is limited in quantity and <br />comparable in quality to the water in the creek. <br />Wildlife Information <br />There is extensive use of the azea by mule deer and elk during [he winter months. In the summer <br />most of the larger animals move to higher elevations on the While River National Forest east of <br />the site. Smaller animals inhabiting the area include ground squirrels, porcupines, cottontail <br />rabbits, a variety of small birds, coyotes, and skunks. <br />3. Statement of the Weed Problem <br />Mining Activities <br />Mining of the rock slides will involve use of heavy equipment, including a caterpillar tractor, <br />front end loader, haul truck, and fork lift. The caterpillar and front end loader will be used to <br />move rock at the toe of the slides to create an equipment staging area such as the one already <br />created at the toe of the largest slide. Then the rock will be loaded into a haul truck with the <br />front end loader and taken to the staging area for sorting onto pallets for transport. There will still <br />be rock left on each slide after mining is completed and regrading will restore the natural <br />appearance of a rock slide. It is unlikely that weeds will invade the rock slides due to lack of <br />soil. <br />Mining of the flagstone outcrops will also involve use of heavy equipment, including a <br />caterpillar tractor, front end loader, haul truck, and fork lift. The caterpillar and front end loader <br />will be used to construct terraces in the hogback starting from the top and working down the <br />ridge. Each terrace will be approximately 20 feet high and 20 ft wide and have a headwall <br />sloping at about 75° which is the average dip of the bedrock. There will eventually be about 10 <br />