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-23- Mitigation measures proposed by the applicant include road watering, protection of coal wastes from wind by using snow fencing and embankments, and the use of covered conveyors or the wetting of coal on the conveyors. The application is in compliance with the requirements of this section. X. Topsoil - Rules 2.04.9, 2.05.3(5), 2.05.4(2)(d> and 4.06 Soil resources information and the topsoil management plan have been reviewed by the Division. Baseline soils information can be found in Section 2.04.9 of the permit application. The topsoil handling and management plan can be found in Section 2.05.3(5) of the permit application. There are numerous soil series present within the permit area. These series vary from shallow rocky materials on some ridgetops to deep soils on mesa tops and valley bottoms. All suitable soils are of a clay or clay-loam texture. The applicant has proposed replacing 12 inches of material on the cropland areas and 18 inches of material on the pit and excess fill areas which will be reclaimed for rangeland and wildlife use. The proposed material is suitable for seedbed material. The topsoil material in the facilities areas, the fill area and the first cut of the pit will be stockpiled. From that point on, topsoil will be stripped ahead of the mining activity and hauled back to previously mined area for redistribution on regraded areas. Stockpiled soil will be seeded and stabilized until it is used. The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. XI. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e> and 4.15 The permit area consists of a mosaic of pinyon-juniper and mountain shrub communities. There are also 15 acres of old field community and a large dryland wheat field. The proposed areas of disturbance include approximtely 20 acres of dryland cropland and 7 acres of old field, with the remainder being pinyon-juniper and mountain shrub. A discussion of the baseline vegetation conditions is provided in Section 2.04.10, Appendix 4-6 and Map 4-6 of the permit application. Information on the revegetation plan and revegetation success criteria is given in Section 2.05.4 of the permit application. A quantitative vegetation survey on the old field community was performed during the fall of 1982. Vegetative cover measurements met the minimum sample size requirements. Productivity and shrub density measurements did not meet sample adequacy requirements. However, since 50 samples were taken for each of these parameters, the Division has determined that adequate sampling was done. The application contains only qualitative descriptions of the mountain shrub and pinyon-juniper vegetation communities. A study plan has been presented by the applicant to determine cover, herbaceous production and woody plant density in these two communities during the summer of 1983. The applicant also proposes to establish reference areas and determine cover, herbaceous productivity and shrub densities within the reference areas at that time.