2012-10-01_REVISION - M1977305 (16)

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Exhibit J Vegetation Information LP -21 Mine Permit Amendment M -1977 -305 There are three distinct vegetative units immediately surrounding the affected area of LP- 21. They are an open sagebrush park, a strip of sparsely pinon-juniper and rock land combination, and a highland area dominated by rock and scattered ponderosa pine and oak brush. Associated secondary species include: Indian ricegrass Fourwing saltbrush Pricklypear Blue grama Rabbitbrush Snakeweed Galletagrass Russian thistle Sand dropseed Sunflower Scarlet falsemallow Pea family members Ponderosa pine Oak brush None of these species is currently listed on the BLM Colorado Sensitive Species List found at www.blm.gov /co /st /en/BLM Programs/botany /Sensitive Species List .html. Between the steep south facing slope and the sagebrush park lies a strip of pinion juniper whose vegetative cover approximates six percent. Moving from the park toward the hillside and portal area, the soils trend is to grade into a clay loam from a loam. The average height of the dominant vegetation ranges from 10 to 20 feet (See Appendix I - Photo #1 and #3). The pinon and juniper stands thin out up the south facing slope as soil contains more clay and water infiltration deceases. Vegetative cover is less than 5% with an abundance of rock land present. For a map of how the vegetation relates to the topography and soil types see Exhibit U - EPP. The main types of soils to be disturbed at the LP -21 site are Bodot, dry -Ustic Torriorthents complex (Soil map unit 23) and Rock outcrop - Orthents complex (Soil map unit 88). The ecological sites associated with both of these soil types are pinon-juniper and douglas fir,' where douglas fir sites are associated with higher elevations. Ecological site descriptions are not yet available in Colorado. However, a Rangeland Site Description associated with pinon-juniper sites has been provided by the Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, and is included in this exhibit. The Rangeland Site Description discusses coverage percentages for each species including the relationship of current vegetation to soil types associated with pinon-juniper sites. I United States Department of Agriculture, Soil Survey of San Miguel Area, Colorado: Parts of Dolores, Montrose, and San Miguel Counties, 1976 (updated in 2001), pages 220 & 238. J -1