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• <br />• <br />A total of 129 plant species were identified in the 158 cover and the 105 shrub density transects <br />sampled in this evaluation. A list of all of the plant species encountered in the field sampling <br />efforts in this evaluation are presented in Appendix Table 2.04.10- 1, New Horizon North Mine - <br />Plant Species List. <br />The field efforts associated with the vegetation mappings efforts commenced in October 2008, <br />when we commenced the formal sampling of the wetland vegetation type in connection with the <br />wetland delineation required by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (COE) and ended when we <br />left the site on September 4, 2009. <br />Vegetation Mapping. All of the different vegetation types within the proposed NHN Mine <br />permit area were initially delineated by using either a Trimble Model Pro XRS or a Trimble <br />Model Geo XH global positioning system. These units have a real time accuracy of plus or <br />minus one meter and once the data are post processed typically have an accuracy of less than one <br />decimeter. Walking in the field, the boundaries of each vegetation type were delineated by <br />walking either a line or an area feature wherein the boundary of each vegetation type was <br />delineated. For those areas dominated by wetland vegetation and which are potential <br />jurisdictional wetlands covered by the COE jurisdiction, under the federal Clean Water Act, <br />these areas were delineated using the wetland delineations standards used by the COE. The <br />wetland areas were formally delineated using approximately 14,000 plastic wire pin flags. As <br />required by the COE, these wetland boundary stakes were then surveyed in using the GPS units <br />described above. <br />Subsequent to the intensive vegetation surveys on the proposed NHN Mine area being sampled, <br />it was determined that there would need to be a special equipment corridor wherein the existing <br />mining equipment would be moved from the current NH2 west mine panel, to the proposed NHN <br />Mine area. Accordingly, a narrow strip of land has been added to the proposed permit boundary <br />to the south of Montrose County AA Road. Additional less intensive and more qualitative <br />surveys were performed on these areas between August and November 25, 2009. This special <br />equipment corridor is necessary because the mining equipment is too heavy to move over the <br />existing county road system. This proposed equipment corridor is shown as the long narrow <br />strip connecting the existing mine permit area to the proposed NHN Mine area. <br />The vegetation boundaries in the proposed equipment corridor were delineated using the GPS <br />unit or by using the detailed aerial photography generated by WFC. This is very high resolution <br />aerial photography and made the delineation of these vegetation types relatively simple. In <br />addition, portions of this proposed equipment corridor in the vicinity of Tuttle Draw, were <br />formally mapped for the potential presence of potential jurisdictional wetlands as described <br />above for the proposed mine expansion area. <br />For the adjacent areas located within one half mile of the proposed NHN Mine permit boundary, <br />these areas were primarily mapped using the detailed aerial photography described above. For <br />• Section 2.04.10 Page 8 April 2011 <br />