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. ~ ' ~ -~- 'The regional climate of the Nucla (dine area is typical of intermountian regions. It is characterized by cold winters, hot summers, low rainfall and short growing seasons. The Nucla Mine receives approximately twelve inches of precipitation in the average year. The majority of the precipitation falls between October and Iday. Undisturbed soils within the Wucla Mine permit area were examined. The major soil is Shavano fine sandy loam nn sandy clay loam. It is a fine, loamy, mixed, frigid (ustic) Ca~nborthid. Topsoil quality is good to an average of eighteen inches on the gentler slopes and twelve inches on the steeper slopes. Persayo clay loam covers three isolated ridges in the permit area. The surface soil may range in texture from sandy clay loam to clay loam with variable content~of shale and sandstone fragments. These steeply sloping, shallow sails are less suitable for topsail than the Shavano described previously. An average of four inches of fair. topsoil may be obtained from the Persayo series. Five vegetation communities cover the Nucla Mine permit area. These are: agriculture, grassland, upland sagebrush, juniper and riparian. Agriculture and grassland predominate. The grassland community is an abandoned hayfield. Upland sayebrush dominates on lands not disturbed by agricultural practices and only occupies six acres. The juniper community covers 1.8 acres. This type is actually an agricultural sub-type as the herbaceous understory is alfalfa hay meadow. Utah juniper trees are well scattered. The riparian co~ixnunity covers 1.9 acres, and occurs along drainages. The Nucla Mine permit area and surrounding area is used by a large variety of wildlife including coyotes, fox, mule deer, and sbme 36 bird species. No critical wildlife habitat is found within the permit boundary. Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan The area to be permitted contains 393 acres of which approximately 170 will be disturbed as shown on the attached Operations Plan Map. Several areas of unregraded "pre-law" spoils existed when the current applicant acquired the mine in 1963. These areas are being reclaimed in conjunction with the existing mininy operation. Coal will be removed at the maximum rate of 100,000 tons per year.