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<br /> 2. Air Quality Studies <br /> A baseline air quality and meteorology program was initiated <br /> in order that potential impacts of commercial oil shale operations might <br />' be determined. In order to satisfy this requirement, Radian Corporation <br /> was hired to install and operate monitoring equipment at five locations <br /> on the C-b Tract and along Piceance Creek. These monitoring stations <br /> were designed to obtain information in addition to that which is required <br /> by the Lease Stipulations. <br /> 3. Vegetation Studies <br /> The vegetation study on Tract C-b was carried out by Woodward- <br /> Clyde Environmental Consultants, their associated contractors and by <br /> the C-b Lessee's staff personnel. Information collected includes: <br /> types of vegetation and their occurrence (for instance, valley bottom <br /> sagebrush and pinyon-juniper); the use of certain species such as service <br /> berry, mountain mahogany and bitterbrush by wildlife; natural changes <br />' now occurring in the vegetation types; identification of all species of <br /> plants; which plants are more common on the Tract; and the productivity <br /> of different species of plants. This information will allow us to <br />' properly plan the Tract development in such a way as to minimize <br /> adverse impact. <br /> 4. Wildlife Studies <br /> Woodward-Clyde Consultants studied the animals which are <br /> found on the Tract and its surrounding area. The objectives of these <br />' studies were to determine what kinds of animals live in this area, how <br /> many there are, how they interact with one another and how important <br /> Tract C-b is to these animals as compared to other parts of the Piceance <br /> Basin. Studies included such activities as collecting insects; live- <br /> trapping and then releasing small mammals such as chipmunks and mice; <br /> studying predators (e. g., bobcat and coyotes) by direct observations, <br /> observing songbirds, game birds and birds of prey; counting big game <br /> (e. g., deer and elk) both from the ground and the air to determine <br /> patterns of migration and areas of heavy use; and, studying the livestock <br /> use on the Tract area. <br />1 <br /> 5. Aquatic Studies <br />Studies of animal and plant life, and water quality in all <br />waters which occur in the area surrounding Tract C-b, and all streams <br />draining the Tract as far down-stream as the White River were conducted <br />' by Woodward-Clyde aquatic specialists. The objective of these studies <br />was to determine the kinds and numbers of species existing in these waters, <br />how productive ttie waters are, and how the aquatic system functions. These <br />studies consisted of activities such as collecting samples of insects and <br />plants that live in or on the bottoms of these streams and ponds, electro- <br />shocking and then releasing fish, and taking samples of water for laboratory <br />analysis of algae, bacteria and water quality. <br />1 <br />It -'- <br />