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RULE 2 - PERMITS <br />2.04.10 Vegetation Information <br />This section of the permit application describes vegetation communities and species occurrence and <br />characteristics in the PSCM permit area, as well as the anticipated disturbance area for the PSCM. <br />The information presented in this section is based on site-specific vegetation mapping and <br />characterization studies of proposed mine disturbance and adjacent areas performed by ESCO <br />Associates, Inc. (ESCO) in 2008, as well as data collected for the Seneca II and Yoast Mines since <br />1987. This analysis of vegetation incorporated current land use and habitat conditions, as well as <br />the evaluation of potential mining -related impacts. The vegetation baseline described in this section <br />will be used to establish revegetation methodology for all disturbed areas, as included as part of the <br />comprehensive PSCM reclamation plan. <br />Exhibit 2.04.10-E1, Vegetation Information, contains the ESCO baseline vegetation study, titled <br />2008 Baseline Vegetation Report, Sage Creek Mine, Routt County, Colorado (ESCO, 2009). The <br />ESCO report addresses CDRMS requirements for baseline vegetation studies and in support of the <br />regulatory requirements for this permit application. As conducted in 2008, the ESCO analysis <br />incorporated the PSCM permit area and other adjacent areas (not within the permit area) within <br />their study area. For this discussion of vegetation resources, only the PSCM permit area and <br />relevant areas of surface disturbance associated with the surface facilities are described. <br />Vegetation Cover in the Permit Area <br />There are 15 cover types located within the PSCM permit area. These cover types reflect the varied <br />topography, aspect, water and riparian sources, soils and soil parent material, and in some cases <br />variability of agricultural or management history of the baseline vegetation study area. <br />Map 2.04.10-M1, Vegetation — Permit Area, illustrates the 15 cover types within the PSCM permit <br />area. Table 2.04.10-T1 provides a summary of acreage and percent cover of these cover types. <br />The following sections present descriptions of the 10 primary vegetation cover types that are within <br />the PSCM permit area. Descriptions of the non -vegetation (road, water, and disturbance), rock <br />outcrop, and farmstead cover types are not provided. <br />Detailed descriptions and data presented for the individual cover types determined to be disturbed <br />by surface activities associated with the PSCM were obtained from the 2008 ESCO Baseline <br />Vegetation Report. The Sagebrush Grassland, Mountain Brush, Mined and Reclaimed Land cover <br />types, and the Sagebrush Grassland and Mountain Brush Vegetation Reference Areas were sampled <br />quantitatively during the 2008 ESCO vegetation baseline study for the PSCM or during previous <br />vegetation monitoring programs at the Seneca II Mine. These vegetation type descriptions contain <br />detailed vegetation sampling data. Located within the PSCM permit area are two vegetation <br />reference areas and two Bond Release Block (BRB) areas associated with the Seneca II Mine. <br />These are the Sagebrush Grassland Reference Area, the Mountain Brush Reference Area, BRB 2, <br />and BRB 3, respectively. The descriptions for the two reference areas and the BRB 2 and BRB 3 <br />are included in the Mined and Reclaimed Land description in this section. Map 2.04.10-M1, <br />Vegetation — Permit Area, presents the location of these areas. <br />Midterm Review 2.04-132 Revision 04/2013 <br />