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Soils <br />The soils found within and adjacent to the mine plan area are typical of soils found in the cold, <br />semi -arid regions of the Western United States. The soils are generally moderately deep (20 to 40 <br />inches) to shallow (10 to 20 inches) and have developed in weathered, interbedded fine sandstone, <br />siltstone, and shale, and in local slope wash and colluvium. Most of the soils are Borollic Vertic <br />Camborthids, Lithic Cryoborolls, and Pachic Cryoborolls. <br />Most of the soil types found in the mine plan area contain at least six inches of suitable topsoil <br />material. The best sources of topsoil material are the Splitro silt loam, the Winevada Loam, and <br />the Cochetopa Loam, which comprise significant portions of the area to be disturbed. Salvage <br />depths vary from 6 to 64 inches, resulting in an overall average soil replacement depth of 1.3 feet <br />(15.6 inches) over regraded areas in the original permit area. Average soil replacement thickness <br />in the South Extension area is 1.1 feet (13.2 inches), with the exception of aspen establishment <br />areas, where average replacement thickness is 4 feet, and upland shrub establishment areas <br />topsoiled in 2006, where average replacement thickness is 0.6 feet (7.2 inches). <br />Vegetation <br />Vegetation in the vicinity of the mine is characterized by three vegetative types; mixed brush, <br />sagebrush grassland, and aspen. Aspen forest is the dominant vegetation type within the Wolf <br />Creek/Sage Creek mine block disturbance area. Land use in the mine area is undeveloped <br />rangeland, with a small area classified as industrial due to an oil well site. Because of livestock <br />grazing, shrubs have increased in density while forbs and grasses have decreased. <br />Fish and Wildlife <br />Numerous wildlife species inhabit the general area of the mine site. The most predominant big <br />game species are elk and mule deer. Common raptors are golden eagle, red - tailed hawk, great <br />horned owl, marsh hawk and American kestrel. <br />Cultural and Historic Resources <br />The applicant conducted a number of site - specific literature searches and archeological surveys of <br />the permit area between 1979 and 1990. SCC has completed archaeological surveys of all <br />currently permitted and proposed areas associated with the extension. During these cultural <br />resource inventories, 10 sites and 5 isolated finds were identified. Of these only 2 were <br />considered significant; one rock art site with adjacent fire -rock and one potential large camp site. <br />The camp site will not be disturbed and appropriate mitigation measures have been proposed for <br />the rock art/fire -rock sites. <br />Description of the Operations and Reclamation Plan <br />Seneca II -W Findings Document 10 C- 1982 -057 <br />Permit Revision No. 6 January 6, 2012 <br />