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-37- Based on the Information presented 1n the application, the 0lvision finds the operation in compliance with the requirements of this section. XI. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10. 2.05.4(2)(e), and 4.15 A. Baseline Surveys Baseline vegetation information for the mine and load-out is presented in Volume 1, page 3-123 through 3-132; Vegetation map, Drawing 12-3-17; and Appendix 3-V "Vegetative Inventory at the Mine and the Load-out". The mine permit area is characterized by five vegetation types: riparian woodland, mountain shrubland-dry and moist phase, aspen forest and spruce fir forest. The mountain shrubland-dry phase dominates the mine permit area with a total of 153 acres of the 325 acre mine area. A total of 60 acres were disturbed prior to the submittal of the application. Only one mayor community, mountain shrub-dry phase, has been disturbed at the mine area. A small amount of riparian woodland was also disturbed. The applicant performed a quantitative vegetation survey for cover, production and density within the riparian woodland, mountain shrubland-dry phase, mixed coniferous forest and aspen forest. The moist phase of the mountain shrubland was qualitatively described. A reference area for mountain shrubland-dry phase was also sampled. All sampling for cover, production, and woody plant density met sample adequacy requirements, with the exception of production in the mountain shrubland-dry phase reference area. Since 157 samples were taken, 'it was determined that sufficient samples fiad been taken to characterize the productivity in this area. The selected mountain shrubland-dry phase reference area is statistically equivalent to the mountain-shrubland-dry phase affected area for cover and productivity. The load-out area consists of approximately 55 acres. The vegetation communities at the load-out which cover the largest areas are hayed and pastured hayland, 23.0 and 17.0 acres respectively; and disturbed and developed areas - 7.5 acres. Other communities which cover smaller areas include pinyon-juniper woodland, rubber rabbltbrush shrubland, big sagebrush shrubland, riparian woodland and meadow grassland. Quantitative cover, production and density sampling was conducted in the pinyon-juniper woodland and rubber rabbitbrush shrubland communities. A six acre reference area was established for the pinyon-juniper woodland vegetation type and quantitatively sampled. All other vegetation types were qualitatively described. Production data for the hayland area was collected from the resident ranchers. All sampling for cover, production and woody plant density met sampling adequacy requirements. The pinyon-juniper woodland reference area is statistically equivalent to the affected area for cover and productivity. All but approximately one acre of the disturbed area was previously used for hay or pastureland.