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Wetland Opinion - Moores Mining Parcel <br />February 5, 2010 <br />Page 2 of 2 <br />• Soils: Soils on the subject parcel consist entirely of the Northern-Garber-Trag complex (as <br />mapped by the local National Resources Conservation Service [NRCS] soil survey). This soil <br />complex occurs on 3 to 25 percent slopes, is very well drained, and very stony across the <br />subject parcel. This soil complex is not identified on NRCS's current national list of hydric <br />soils. <br />Vegetation: The entire subject parcel, including the dry gully areas, is vegetated with native <br />pinyon pine-Utah juniper woodlands. Some areas have been cleared for equipment storage <br />or to create dirt lanes providing access to stored equipment (these areas are visible on <br />Figure 2). The woodland understory was characterized by big sagebrush, prickly pear <br />cactus, yucca, and western wheatgrass, with a high percentage of bare, rocky ground. The <br />equipment storage areas also featured cheatgrass and non-native annual mustards, invasive <br />herbaceous species characteristic of dry soils across the region. No obligate or facultative <br />wetland vegetation was observed on the subject parcel, and none of the vegetation observed <br />on the subject parcel met wetland vegetation criteria set forth in the Corps Wetlands <br />Delineation Manual (1987) and the Arid West Regional Supplement to the 1987 Delineation <br />Manual. <br />Based on my onsite observations and review of available published literature and maps, it is my <br />opinion that the subject parcel proposed for the expansion of the Moores Mining operation near <br />Gateway contains no wetlands or waters of the U.S. potentially under the jurisdiction of Section 404 <br />of the Clean Water Act. <br />Sincerely, <br />Rare Earth Science, LLC <br />Dawn Reeder <br />Principal Biologist <br />Enc: Figures 1 and 2, topographic map and aerial photograph of subject parcel <br />cc: Thomas A. Logue, Land Development Consultant <br />Carrie Rinderle (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Colorado West Regulatory Branch - ID No. SPK-2009-01717) <br />ar_s a ,oloFado-Diuisier-wf-RecrmafioA,-Alining-and Safe6W)D <br />RARE EARTh SCIENCE