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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />Cultivated Land (Cropland) - As indicated on Map 4C, the dry-land cropland minor community occupies <br />68.5 acres and is located in the northeast corner of the study area next to the coal loadout and railroad <br />loop. This cropland is planted in row crops (typically wheat, average of 30 bushels per acre per year) <br />every other year and is fallow when not planted. When fallow, it receives only cultivation to <br />reduce /remove weed invasion and preclude transpiration of soil moisture. The portions of the cropland <br />internal to the vegetation study area were fallow in 2005. <br />Disturbed Areas — As indicated on Map 4C, the disturbed areas occupy approximately 26.2 acres of the <br />study area. They encompass small barren areas, homesteads, ranch buildings and yards, and two -lane or <br />larger roads. Additionally, they include mining - related disturbances associated with the active Colowyo <br />mine, which include shops, offices, load -outs, pits, waste rock dumps, parking lots, railroad tracks, and <br />revegetated areas. These mining - related disturbances are associated with the active Colowyo mine <br />located outside the study area, but within the Wildlife Study Area. Little to no vegetation exists in the <br />disturbed areas. <br />Wetlands — The following text is excerpted from Wetlands and Waters of the U.S. — Delineation for <br />Collom Project, prepared by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. in May, 2006 (Exhibit 10, Item 7). <br />This text has been edited to emphasize a description of the wetland community. A brief (and edited) <br />discussion of the methods section is provided to offer detail regarding data collection procedures as they <br />differed significantly from the quantitative procedures used for the upland communities. A total of 47.9 <br />acres of wetlands and 5.5 acres of stock tanks were delineated within the Vegetation Study Area. <br />Methods <br />The Collom permit expansion area wetland delineation was completed in 2005, and encompassed the <br />13,605 acre vegetation study area. Wetland / upland boundary delineation work began with an extensive <br />site reconnaissance and analysis of existing information. Color infra -Red (CIR) aerial imagery was <br />examined for evidence of hydrology (drainage patterns) and photographic signatures characteristic of <br />wetlands. <br />The field delineation effort was completed following the methods and techniques specified for "routine <br />on -site delineations" in the publication Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual (1987). To <br />properly identify and delineate wetland / upland boundaries, each vegetation community observed on site <br />was evaluated. Extensive pedestrian transects were implemented within these communities, as <br />appropriate, and along the boundaries with adjacent communities during which observations were made <br />with respect to vegetation, soil characteristics, and hydrologic conditions. Sample points representing the <br />dominant wetland communities or larger wetland units along and within suspected wetland / upland <br />boundaries were evaluated. <br />A total of nine formal sample points were located within typical wetland circumstances to document and <br />represent the various site conditions. Six of these were located within each of the six larger (or in one <br />case problematic) wetland units and three were located to be representative of the three main drainage <br />systems and at three different elevations. At each sample point, percent total ground cover of dominant <br />plant species was visually estimated. Species were then classed as OBL (obligate wetland species), <br />FACW (facultative wetland species), FAC (facultative species), FACU (facultative upland species) or <br />UPL (upland species). Soil and hydrologic data were also recorded to verify the presence or absence of <br />wetlands at each sampling point. Wetland soil indicators potentially included the presence of a histic <br />epipedon, mottling, gleying, low chroma matrix colors, sulfidic odors, and a high organic matter content <br />and /or organic matter streaking in the surface layers of sandy soils. Potential wetland hydrologic <br />indicators included topographic position, the presence of standing water, saturated soil profile conditions, <br />Collom — Rule 2, Page 71 Revision Date: 1/23/09 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />