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Soils range from shallow on the ridge tops and upper sideslopes to deep on <br /> lower side slopes and valley-filling fans. Soil development was observed .i'rroo <br /> some series identified. These include the Cushman, Forelle, Pinelli , Potts, <br /> Satanka and Worfka series. Other series such as Colorow, Haverson alkali <br /> phase, Kinnear, Moyerson, Redcreek, Rentsac and Turley variant are relatively <br /> young undeveloped soils. These underdeloped soils occur on low floodplains, <br /> ridgetops, and upper sideslopes.The area is semi-arid and ,characterized by light rainfall , low relative <br /> humidity and moderate winds. The amount of annual and seasonal precipitation <br /> is relatively evenly distributed. This results in a mean annual precipitation <br /> of 9 to 10 inches. Spring precipitation predominates in the area by a small <br /> margin, averaging 3.2 inches during March, April and May. Snowfall <br /> accumulations are generally small , which is supported by data collected during <br /> 1972-1979, showing an average water equivalent precipitation amount of 1 .32 <br /> inches during December, January, and February. ) <br /> Eight plant communities have been delineated on areas within portions of the <br /> permit area affected by surface operations and facilities. Vegetation <br /> communities consist of juniper woodland, juniper woodland-big sagebrush, big <br /> sagebrush, big sagebrush-wheatgrass, western wheatgrass, Colorado wildrye, <br /> cheatgrass-annual forb, and big sagebrush-greasewood. These communities <br /> comprise a mosaic of plant dominants controlled by soil type and topography. <br /> Further influence on vegetation composition and distribution was exerted by <br /> past and present land uses. The principal use of the area has been as sheep <br /> winter range. Overgrazing of much of the permit area has occurred. This <br /> overuse has adversely affected much of the natural vegetation. The result is <br /> a predominance of disturbed vegetation types that are successional or <br /> dysclimactic in character. <br /> Important wildlife species found within the permit area include mule deer <br /> (Odocoileus Hemionus), antelope (Antiloca ra americana), and sage grouse <br /> Controcercus uro a ianus). The mule deer inhabit—We entire permit area. <br /> me ope inhabit the extreme northeast portion of the permit area. Sage <br /> grouse were observed in the area of the proposed mine facilities. <br /> Numerous raptor species were identified in the area. Species include the <br /> ferruginous hawk (Buteo r_e_9alis) , turkey vulture (Cathortes aura) , marsh hawk <br /> (Cireus cyaneus), American kestrel (Falco _spa_rve�rius s arp-sFinned hawk <br /> ( cc ter s s), burrowing owl (S est to cuieulaira), red-tailed hawk <br /> ( ut�maiccaensus), and golden ea—gTFrWLuila c hrysauetos). One active <br /> goTTden eagle nest is located in the redstone cliffs adjacent to the mine <br /> portal . <br /> Large white-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys leucurus) towns exist in the area of <br /> the waste disposal site. Surveys were conducted to determine possible <br /> presence of black-footed ferrets (Mustela nniigr_i_pes). No black-footed ferrets <br /> or sign of their presence was founT.7—FaTd eagles(Hliaeetus leucoce halus) <br /> • and peregrine falcons (Falco ere rinus) were not observed on the site, but <br /> are known to migrate through the area. <br />