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wetland and endangered plant areas that could be affected by the proposed expanded <br />mining operation. Savage and Savage Environmental visited the site and provided <br />guidance on both jurisdictional wetlands and orchid habitat and identified the McCann <br />Ditch as potentially jurisdictional wetlands. Subsequent discussions with the U.S. Army <br />Corp of Engineers (USACE) concluded that potentially sensitive wetlands associated <br />with the ditch are restricted to a short reach of the McCann Ditch comprising less than <br />0.5 acres, and that the planned ditch relocation can occur under a Nationwide 46 Permit. <br />Mining offsets are established to leave other riparian wetlands along Third Creek <br />undisturbed. The McCann Ditch will be relocated and wetland vegetation reestablished <br />at least approximately one year prior to mining in the immediate vicinity. The riparian <br />buffer zones will also serve as a riparian wildlife habitat corridor. <br />The assessment of viable habitat for the Spiranthes orchid was performed by SSE. <br />Viable habitat is expected only along the riparian wetlands areas that will either be <br />protected or relocated and reestablished. During the wildlife/wetlands assessment and site <br />walkover by SSE it was determined that orchid habitat appeared unlikely anywhere on <br />the property. SSE provided guidance that orchid surveys should not be required for the <br />site. <br />17