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free, but with frequent blizzard conditions. The mine site has a typical alpine climate, experiencing <br />long, cold winters, averaging from low teens at night to 30 degrees Fahrenheit in the day, and <br />moderate summers. "Mountain top" air flow of cold night air drains from the mountain sides down to <br />the Colorado River Valley. Prevailing winds blow from west and northwest to the southeast with an <br />average velocity of 5.3 mph. <br />Soils <br />Soils in the azea aze chazacterized as moderately deep to deep, well-drained loamy with a dazk <br />colored surface layer. Variability in the chazacteristics of the soil in the azea is primarily due to <br />slope and topography. Deeper soils are located in the valley bottoms and at the foot of slopes <br />while the shallower soils occupy the steeper side slopes. <br />Two soil types have been identified at the mine site. These aze the Heldt silty clay, found on the <br />lower slopes, and the Nihil stony loam found on the steeper slopes. <br />The Heldt silty clay occurs on alluvial fans and side slopes of the mountain valleys. The clay is fine, <br />slightly montmorillic and is grayish-brown in color. It varies from 10 to 60 inches in depth and is <br />well drained. <br />The Nihil stony loam (a loamy-skeletal mixture of sand and clay) occurs in alluvial fans and side <br />slopes of the mountain valleys. It is very pale brown in color. It is a deep (60 inches), well drained <br />soil with rapid permeability and low water retention capability. <br />Ve elation <br />Vegetation baseline information is contained on PAP pages 3-124 through 3-142 of Volume I, <br />Appendices 3.6-1 in Volume II, and 3.6-2 and 3.6-3 in Volume VI. The revegetation plan is <br />contained on pages 4-68 and 69, and 4-71 through 74 in Volume I. <br />The vegetation within the vicinity of the mine is chazacterized as Pir3on-sagebrush, mountain <br />shrub, and, in the lower regions, irrigated cropland. The azea is used for limited grazing and <br />wildlife habitat. <br />Wildlife <br />Wildlife that inhabit the azea include large and small game animals and numerous birds and small <br />mammals. Big game species such as mule deer and elk as well as smaller mammals such as <br />raccoons, rabbits and coyotes aze common to the mine site. Less common aze black beaz and <br />mountain lion. Waterfowl and game birds are abundant due to the proximity of riparian habitat near <br />the Colorado River. Red tailed hawks have been observed as the Kestrel and the Cooper hawk. Bald <br />eagles have been seen adjacent to the site along the Colorado River, but no eagles have been <br />recorded as nesting in the azea. Five species of reptiles and twenty-seven species offish have been <br />reported in this area. Details regazding baseline wildlife information aze located in Section 3.7 ofthe <br />PAP. <br />An endangered species assessment was made and the findings verified that the mine would not <br />12 June 1, 2006 <br />