2010-08-10_REVISION - M1977493 (7)

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Permit Amendment (AM -06) — Climax Mine • J -1 Introduction The Climax Mine property encompasses over 14,000 acres and ranges in elevation from 10,230 ft amsl along Tenmile Creek at the northern property boundary to 13,850 ft amsl at the summit of Clinton Peak. This elevational range includes several subalpine and alpine vegetation communities. In addition, Climax has engaged in successful reclamation activities for the past several decades which have created several reclamation vegetation communities that differ from the undisturbed vegetation on the property. J -1.1 Updates to Previous Permit Amendments The 1977 Climax Mine Permit included a vegetation resources section and a mine -wide vegetation map. No subsequent Permit Amendments (1980, 1989, 1996, 2005) have updated this information. New information is now available that will be included in this updated permit AM -06 including more complete site specific vegetation surveys and information on the reclaimed vegetation communities. The vegetation mapping completed in 1977 has been used as a template with additions regarding additional disturbances and areas where reclamation has been completed since 1977. The updated species list presented in this amendment has been expanded and includes more site specific species lists and .updated plant community types. Vegetation surveys completed between 1987 and 2009 have been used to develop a more complete species list for each plant community. The updated species lists are vastly improved: however, they cannot be considered comprehensive listings of all species present on the Climax property. Species nomenclature follows the USDA NRCS Plant Database (plants.usda.gov, 2009). J -2 Vegetation Communities This section describes the native and reclaimed plant communities on the property. A summary of each plant community's extent is presented in Table J -1 and shown on Figure AM- 06 -J -01. Table J4: Veaetatlon Communities Prasam nn the Corns. teo.e • J -2.1 Alpine Communities Alpine vegetation communities lie above 11,800 feet in elevation at Climax. These communities include the areas above the open pit and on the west side of the property above Termite and Mayflower TSFs as well as in Searle Gulch. There are a variety of alpine habitats within the alpine community. This diversity in alpine habitats has been created by topographic variation, moisture collection, soil types, and microclimates created by glaciations, wind frost and water action, and soil movement. The alpine • habitats dominated by vegetation are described as alpine tundra, while areas where the primary ground Exhibit J J -1 May 2010 (Page Revised August 2010) Affected Area Climax Propert Community %vegetation Agre$ Com munity type within Alleged Area %Vegetation Acres Community type within Climax Pro ert AI ne Communities Alpine Tundra 305 7.417 1,124 11.41% Talus 57 1.38% 57 0.58% SuDal lyre Communities Coniferous Forest 1,358 32.98% 3,594 36.47% Aspen F o r est 16 0.39% 17 0.17 Subalpine Meadow 1,346 32.69% 4,027 40.86% Reclamation Communities Final Reclamation 632 15.35% 632 6,41% Interim Reclamation 404 9.81 % 404 4.10% Total V etated Acres a 4 9 J -2.1 Alpine Communities Alpine vegetation communities lie above 11,800 feet in elevation at Climax. These communities include the areas above the open pit and on the west side of the property above Termite and Mayflower TSFs as well as in Searle Gulch. There are a variety of alpine habitats within the alpine community. This diversity in alpine habitats has been created by topographic variation, moisture collection, soil types, and microclimates created by glaciations, wind frost and water action, and soil movement. The alpine • habitats dominated by vegetation are described as alpine tundra, while areas where the primary ground Exhibit J J -1 May 2010 (Page Revised August 2010)