2015-10-06_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (3)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Vegetation Monitoring Please review Volume 1, Section 4.15.1(4) to review the interim revegetation monitoring program activities and process to be applied to the Collom mining area. Colowyo is proposing no changes to the program specific to the Collom mining area. Use of Introduced Species For Collom area revegetation, the seed mix is comprised entirely of native species with the specific exceptions described below. Introduced species would only be utilized in four possible circumstances. The first would be reclaimed areas exhibiting a post -mining land use of pastureland (specifically targeting domestic livestock grazing and/or haying operations). The second would be in small areas potentially susceptible to excessive erosion where at the discretion of Colowyo's reclamation coordinator, introduced species would provide the necessary protection. (Prior to use of introduced species to combat areas that are highly susceptible to erosion, an MR or TR (as appropriate) will be obtained from CDRMS to address such circumstances.) The third possible circumstance would be the inclusion of orchard grass at elevated densities in certain locations designed to encourage elk away from other sites. (It has been documented that elk specifically seek this species for consumption.) The fourth circumstance would be inclusion of modest quantities of small burnett or nitrogen fixing legumes such as cicer milkvetch or alfalfa as supplemental forage for deer, elk, and livestock. In addition, cicer milkvetch has proven to be an excellent "habitat" plant for insects that are very important to foraging sage grouse chicks during the brooding period. Seeding and Planting The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal period for favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting period and other revegetation metrics for Colowyo are set forth in Section 2.05.4. Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices As addressed in Section 2.05.4, when necessary, chisel plowing, discing, terracing and/or contour furrows could/would be utilized to stabilize, reduce compaction and increase the moisture retention of graded topsoiled areas. Chisel plowing is the most preferred method of initiating surface roughness at Colowyo, beyond the roughness created through topsoil laydown activities. Areas less than 10% slope in the Collom mining area have been identified as potentially targeted areas for the Sagebrush Steppe land use and will essentially require a smooth seedbed surface. If these Sagebrush Steppe areas occur in large patches in the future and encompass long sweeping slopes, moderate contour furrows will be established to mitigate any future sheet flow and loss of the topsoil resource. Efforts will be made to establish reclamation blocks along the contour of slopes in order to eliminate the loss of the topsoil resource onto spoil areas. All other areas targeted for the grassland subcomponent of the Rangeland land use will generally be on slopes greater than 10% and depending on the size of each reclamation unit will need to be chisel plowed (or ripped with a dozer) at a minimum if topsoil laydown activities do not produce sufficient surface roughness to limit the excessive formation of rills on first and second year reclamation blocks by "normal" seasonal runoff events. Contour furrows will be created with regular frequency on slopes greater than 20% and less frequently on areas between 10% and 20% slopes depending on the length of the slope and the size of individual reclamation blocks as determined by topsoil laydown progression in any given year or series of years. ks indicated under "Mulching Techniques" in Section 2.05.4, use of mulch would be considered a last resort, but is certainly an erosion control metric: that may be utilized (where deemed necessary) for long sough -facing slopes. Spoil will be graded to minimize Collom — Rule 4, Page 31 Revision Date: 9/28/11 Revision No.: PR -03