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<br />• -5- <br />Soils <br />The soils to be disturbed by the proposed operation include Glendive loam, <br />Havre loam, Nihill loam, Rivra gravelly loam variant and Torriorthent-rock <br />outcrop complex. These soils range from loam to sandy loam texture. The pH <br />ranges from 7.6 to 9.0, with the higher value occurring below 14 inches in the <br />Nihill soil. Electrical conductivity values were measured between 0.4 and 4.9 <br />mmhos/cm with the higher value again occurring below 14 inches in the Nihill <br />loam. Sodium absorption ratios (SAR) ranged from 0.2 to 43.5; again the <br />higher SAR was detected in the Nihill loam. Boron was measured ranging from <br />0.1 to 0.3 mg/1. <br />Vegetation <br />The mine occurs within the lower montane climax region. Four distinct <br />vegetation types occur within the adjacent to the permit area. A greasewood <br />shrubland type occupies the flat terrain along the East Salt drainage where <br />soils are deep, well-drained, and often very sodic and moderately saline. A <br />big sagebrush shrubland occurs along drainages and side draws to East Salt <br />Creek where soils are deep and well-drained, and often very sodic and <br />moderately saline. A big sagebrush shrubland occurs along drainages and side <br />draws to East Salt Creek where soils are deep and well-drained. Shadscale <br />shrubland borders the greasewood shrubland along the dry, steeper, <br />south-facing slopes in the shallower soils which are interspersed with rock <br />• outcrops. Juniper Woodland is found along the ridge tops and steep north and <br />west-facing slopes of shallow soils and rock outcrops. These vegetation types <br />are common to western Colorado and Utah. <br />No threatened or endangered plants are known to occur on the site. <br />Fish and Wildlife <br />The mule deer is the most abundant large mammal species within the mine plan <br />area. The area in which the mine is located has been identified as mule deer <br />winter range. The deer migrate diffusely from upland to lowland areas in the <br />winter, resulting in higher deer concentrations in the canyon bottom. The <br />migrational movement is reversed in spring by the deer returning to higher <br />elevations. <br />Black bears and mountain lions may be present in the lease block area, but <br />none were observed during wildlife inventory trips. Elk were observed at <br />higher elevations, and it is possible that they occur within the mine plan <br />area at certain times of the year. Cottontail rabbits and coyotes are <br />abundant in the area. Twelve mammal, fifty-six bird, and three reptile and <br />amphibian species were identified on the lease area. <br />• <br />