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1 <br />1 <br />1 <br /> <br />4.0 Geography <br />4.1 Climate <br /> <br />The climate of the area is classed as semi-arid continental. Mean <br />summer temperature in the Rangely area is about 67 degrees F. Mean <br />winter temperature is about 29 degrees F. Precipitation averages 8.93 <br />inches annually. Approximately 40 percent of this occurs during the <br />months of November through April, primarily in the form of snow. <br />4.2 Land Use <br />Land use in the proposed exploration area consists of wildlife habitat <br />year round and sheep grazing during the winter months, December through <br />April. <br />4.3 Soils, Vegetation and wildlife <br />Soils are derived primarily from sandstones and shales. Occasionally <br />the soil profile may exhibit considerable interbedding of parent <br />materials. Much of the area has thin topsoil consisting primarily of <br />' sandy loam. <br />Bottom land drainages are heavily covered with sagebrush. Sandy soils <br />on higher ground are covered with sagebrush, juniper trees, native <br />grasses and crested wheatgrass. The highest slopes are densely covered <br />with junipers and scattered pinyon pine. Native grasses are also <br />common on these slopes. The area provides habitat for mule deer, <br />' pronghorned antelope, white-tailed prairie dog, badger, .coyote, and <br />various species of raptors, upland gamebirds and small mammals. <br />4.4 Archaeological Sites <br />An extensive archaeological survey was performed on the adjacent <br />Deserado t4ine site and no major archaeological sites were identified. <br />In order to protect any possible archaeological sites in the proposed <br />' exploration area, an archaeological survey of proposed hole locations <br />and access routes will be performed prior to initiation of the <br />exploration program. <br /> <br />4 <br />