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Vegetation <br />The vegetation at the Marr permit area is described as a sagebrush steppe. <br />Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) predominates most areas, although alkali <br />sagebrush (Artemesia longaloba) communities are found. Absolute cover at the <br />site ranges from thirty-five (35%) to forty-five (45%) percent. Sagebrush and <br />rabbitbrush make up sixty percent ( o t e re cover while fortis and <br />grasses equally split the remainder. Phlox is the predominate forb and <br />wheatgrasses are the major grasses. Productivity ranges from 450-750 pounds <br />per acre. <br />The tipple was built on fill which was imported to raise the surface above the <br />meadowland/marsh community. Carex is the predominate species of the <br />community. (Production was measured at 2,784 pounds per acre. Vegetation <br />covered 83% of the site, and 78% of that vegetation are sedges). <br />w;tdt;fP <br />Extensive inventories of wildlife sighting in or near the Kerr permit area are <br />documented in Table 33-39 of the permit application. The accompanying <br />discussion is found on pages 779-86aa through 779-104. Mule deer, antelope, <br />Richardson ground squirrels, sage ggrouse and golden eagles are likely to be <br />seen at the mine area, while Canad~aw geese, mallards and pintails can be f^~"~- <br />readily observed from the loadout. No critical habitats have been identified <br />within the permit area, although a large wintering ground for a sage grouse <br />lek is located two miles west of the Marr Mine, and antelope frequently winter <br />in the bottom of Bush and Williams Draw. <br />No threatened and endangered species occupy the perit area although bald <br />eagles are frequently observed on the road between Walden and the mine. State <br />listed threatened and endangered species found in North Park include the <br />Johnny darter, white pelican, American peregrine falcon and greater sandhill <br />crane. The Johnny darter has been reported in the Canadian, Illinois and <br />Michigan Rivers. The white pelican and greater sandhill crane are occasional <br />migrants along the Illinois River near the load-out. The American peregrine <br />falcon is found east of the permit area in the mountains of the Park Range. <br />The Marr Mine operations will have an insignificant impact on threatened and <br />endangered species. <br />