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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />long, uninterrupted slopes. Replacement of topsoil will be followed by chisel plowing and contour <br />furrowing (when necessary). <br />The efficacy of these mechanical techniques will continue to be closely monitored as changes to the <br />reclamation program are initiated. <br />Grazing <br />All the lands reclaimed by Colowyo in the Collom area will not be grazed by livestock for a period of at <br />least three years after seeding or planting and will be managed to promote the postmining land use. <br />Grazing by livestock will not commence until Colowyo has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the <br />Division that the vegetation on the reclaimed surface is adequately established and can be expected to <br />withstand grazing pressures. Any grazing studies undertaken by Colowyo will not preclude or interfere <br />with postmining vegetation sampling as required in section 4.15.8. <br />Field Trials <br />Please refer to Volume 1, Section 4.15.6 for more details on specific field trials that have occurred on the <br />existing permit area in the past. <br />Given the fact the post -mine land use, reclamation plan, and mitigation efforts will focus on sagegrouse <br />brood -rearing habitat in conjuction with grassland, Colowyo is not in favor of large scale "restoration" <br />activities associated with mountain shrub communities beyond the inclusion of many of the species of <br />concern within the reclamation seed mixes. However, Colowyo has accommodated CDOW's request to <br />incorporate approximately 750 small size exclosures into Collom reclamation areas on 150 acres at a <br />density of approximately five exclosures per acre to meet their expectations for establishing tall shrub <br />species. Colowyo has a long history of supporting scientific research through cooperative field trials <br />involving the academic community, the Division, and other area mining operations. Colowyo has made <br />many unsuccessful attempts to establish tall shrub communities, despite the utilization of the best <br />technology of the time. Efforts undertaken to date include everything up to and including live <br />transplantation of local mature plants, containerized plantings, direct drill and broadcast seedings. The <br />two field trials described below are meant to provide additional information to Colowyo, DRMS and the <br />CDOW about the appropriate expectations for success/failure of establishing this habitat type at Colowyo <br />in the context of a ten year bond clock and also to provide some baseline information that can be used to <br />modify practices and the plant materials used to assist efforts to establish this habitat type in the future. <br />The standard interim revegetation monitoring techniques and practices (performed by a third party) <br />applied to the other reclamation areas at Colowyo will be utilized annually to measure progress of the <br />trials. All data will be captured, collated and presented as part of the Annual Reclamation Report <br />provided to DRMS. <br />A full description of both proposed field trials is as follows: <br />1) Colowyo agrees to establish one small (one acre) tall shrub establishment site that that <br />displays a thicker topsoil condition. The location of this field trial will likely be located in the Grassland <br />designated seeding area as illustrated by Map 46. Actual results from the trial should yield information <br />that can be used to apply additional stability and/or sediment control measures on larger areas if this <br />attempt is successful. <br />a) The area will be regraded in accordance with F MT requirements. <br />b) The area will be tested for overburden suitabihty as per requirements. <br />Collom - Rule 4, Page 32 Revision Date: 9/28/11 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />