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are deepest in the valley bottoms and become shallower along the canyon sideslopes where they <br />intersperse with bare rock. All of the soils are rated good to fair as sources of topsoil for <br />reclamation. Limitations exist, however, for subsoils in the alluvium which demonstrate strongly <br />alkaline pH values. <br />Vegetation <br />The mine occurs within the lower montane climax region. Four distinct vegetation types occur <br />within and adjacent to the permit area. A greasewood shrubland type occupies the flat terrain <br />along the East Salt drainage. Big sagebrush shrubland occurs along drainages and sidedraws to <br />East Salt Creek where soils aze deep and well drained. Shadscale shtubland borders the <br />greasewood shrublaztd along the dry, steeper, south-facing slopes in the shallower soils, which <br />are interspersed with. rock outcrops. Finally, Juniper woodland is found along the ridgetops and <br />steep north and west-facing slopes of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types <br />aze common to westrrn Colorado and i3tah. <br />Fish & Wildlife <br />Numerous wildlife species inhabit the permit azea at various times of year, including mule deer, <br />elk, and black bear. The rimrock on higher slopes is important nesting habitat for raptors, <br />particularly golden eagles. <br />Cultural and Historic: Resources <br />Information appropriate to cultural and historic resources can be found in Section 4.1.5 of <br />Volume 1, Appendix: J of Volume V, and Section 4.1.4 of Volume VI of the application. These <br />sections have been n:viewed by the Division and the following comments result: <br />A number of cultural) resource studies were prepared for Salt Creek Mining Company's McClane <br />and Munger Canyon coal mine areas in Garfield Counry, Colorado, as part of the permitting <br />process for the initial permanent regulatory program permit. Chief among the reports was a <br />submission by the Grand River Institute, 1980 and two survey reports by the Museum of Western <br />Colorado of work conducted in the azea in 1977. The surveys covered roads, drill hole locations, <br />areas of potential surface disturbance and a sample survey of areas that in the future may be <br />affected by subsidence. A total of three archeological sites (two pre-historic and one historic) <br />and one suspect area were recorded during the survey. <br />Several concerns were raised by the Division and the Office of Surface Mining (OSM) during the <br />review of the cultural resources survey. The applicant was asked to define the extent of the <br />survey, explain sample selecting procedures and supply a review of the areas historic <br />development. The applicant satisfactorily addressed these three items. <br />tt <br />