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<br />-6- <br />Soils range from shallow on the ridge tops and upper sideslopes to deep on <br />lower side slopes and valley-filling fans. Soil development was observed in <br />some series identified. These include the Cushman, Forelle, Pinelli, Potts, <br />Satanka and Worfka series. Other series such as Colorow, Haverson alkali <br />phase, Kinnear, Moyerson, Redcreek, Rentsac and Turley variant are relatively <br />young undeveloped soils. These underdeloped soils occur on low floodplains, <br />ridgetops, and upper sideslopes. <br />The area is semi-arid and characterized by light rainfall, low relative <br />humidity and moderate winds. The amount of annual and seasonal precipitation <br />is relatively evenly distributed. This results in a mean annual precipitation <br />of 9 to 10 inches. Spring precipitation predominates in the area by a small <br />margin, averaging 3.2 inches during March, April and May. Snowfall <br />accumulations are generally small, which is supported by data collected during <br />1972-1979, showing an average water equivalent precipitation amount of 1.32 <br />inches during December, January, and February.) <br />Eight plant communities have been delineated on areas within portions of the <br />permit area affected by surface operations and facilities. Vegetation <br />communities consist of juniper woodland, juniper woodland-big sagebrush, big <br />sagebrush, big sagebrush-wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, Colorado wildrye, <br />cheatgrass-annual forb, and big sagebrush-greasewood. These communities <br />comprise a mosaic of plant dominants controlled by soil type and topography. <br />Further influence on vegetation composition and distribution was exerted by <br />past and present land uses. The principal use of the area has been as sheep <br />winter range. Overgrazing of much of the permit area has occurred. This <br />overuse has adversely affected much of the natural vegetation. The result is <br />a predominance of disturbed vegetation types that are successional or <br />dysclimactic in character. <br />Important wildlife species found within the permit area include mule deer <br />(Odocoileus Hemionus), antelope (Antiloca ra americans), and sage grouse <br />Controcercus u~r~o F~~iasia~n__u-s ). The mu a eer in a~6it e entire permit area. <br />Ante~einFia it~eme northeast portion of the permit area. Sage <br />grouse were observed in the area of the proposed mine facilities. <br />Numerous raptor species were identified in the area. Species include the <br />ferruginous hawk (Buteo regalis), turkey vulture (Cathortes aura), marsh hawk <br />(Cireus cyaneus), Tlmerica~rel (Falco ~sparv~erius s arp-s~iinned hawk <br />( c~ctp er sFiatus), burrowing owl (Spestyto cunieulaira), red-tailed hawk <br />(Buteo ~amaicaensus), and golden eag a Aquila c- rFi ysauetos). One active <br />golden eagle n- est is located in the redstone i'~fs adjacent to the mine <br />portal. <br />Large white-tai]ed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) towns exist in the area of <br />the waste disposal site. Surveys were conducted to determine possible <br />presence of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes). No black-footed ferrets <br />or sign of their presence was founcTTaTd eats (Hliaeetus leucocephalus) <br />and peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus) were not o serve on t e site, ut <br />are known to migrate throng t e area. <br />