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predominance of young or nonexistant soils, low in available <br /> primary nutrients, low annual mean temperatures, and limited <br /> growth season moisture. The harsh environmental conditions <br /> which occur in the different microsites due to topography and <br /> climate result in an inimical environment for plant propagation <br /> and growth. <br /> The reclamation procedures proposed for achieving forest <br /> habitat on affected lands were developed from limited baseline <br /> data, and the actual feasibility of attaining stated goals was <br /> unknown. The primary objective of reclamation efforts expended <br /> to date has consequently been to establish test plots on selected <br /> major, minor and moderate disturbance areas to ascertain the <br /> optimum method of achieving reclamation goals. The majority of <br /> the revegetation test work was devoted to major disturbance areas, <br /> primarily inactive Tailing Pond No. 2 since the moderate or minor <br /> disturbance sites are much more conducive to vegetative establish- <br /> ment by applied techniques as well as natural invasion. Moderate <br /> and minor disturbance sites on which reclamation test work was not <br /> required to attain reclamation goals were subjected to originally <br /> formulated revegetation procedures. Reclamation activities imple- <br /> mented on affected lands during the past five years are presented <br /> in the following annual report. <br /> Affected Acreage - Standard Metals Corporation began mining and <br /> milling operations at the Silverton site in 1960 upon reactivating <br /> idled mine and mill facilities which had operated intermittently <br /> Page 3 <br />