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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />berms along the contour and somewhat perpendicular to prevailing winds, also to encourage snow <br />entrapment; 3) use of native species; 4) severe reduction of grasses in the seed mix; 5) use of only bunch <br />grasses for those taxa planted with sagebrush; 6) sharp increases in the amount of sagebrush seed to be <br />used; 7) extra care to obtain the correct subspecies of sagebrush (vaseyana pauciflora) with a seed source <br />as close as possible to the Axial Basin; 8) extra care to place seed at the ideal time of year (immediately <br />prior to the first major snowfall event; 9) placement of thin layers of topsoil over overburden; l 0) possible <br />placement of zero topsoil; 11) possible placement of thin layers of overburden over topsoil; 12) use of <br />specialized seed placement equipment to obtain correct planting depths; 13) use of seedbed preparation <br />equipment and techniques to encourage sagebrush emergence; and 14) interseeding of additional grasses <br />and/or forbs (only where necessary) following a period of 2 — 3 years of growth by shrubs. All of these <br />possible techniques / metrics are designed to diminish the competitive advantage of grasses, at least in the <br />early stages of establishment and growth. The primary "foundation -building" element for this approach is <br />the ability to replace variable topsoil depths and/or quality of soil materials depending on site-specific <br />needs, the discretion of the field construction supervisor, and the capabilities (or lack thereof) of available <br />materials and equipment. <br />In summary, application of PERA on "shrub -favorable areas" would be based on the community <br />development contributory factors of. 1) soil quantity, quality, and replacement depth; 2) aspect, slope, and <br />landform; 3) documented and expected performance of various floral species; 4) revegetation metrics; and <br />5) the target post -mining land use. In this manner, reclamation and resultant developing communities will <br />be encouraged to follow a more natural path to maturation and successional progression as opposed to <br />more historically utilized grassland favorable approaches that should only be applied to the remaining <br />60% to 80% of reclaimed ground (sloping areas). However, there will likely be instances, if not an <br />overall need, to incorporate managerial practices to encourage or protect positive recruitment to the shrub <br />populations. Such management may include the following steps: <br />• Use of elevated quantities of sagebrush seed within the grassland target areas, and placement <br />of that seed in a manner to encourage sagebrush emergence. <br />• Use of limited livestock (cattle) grazing to select against grasses and for shrubs and forbs. <br />a Use of elk -proof fencing to preclude access into large blocks of maturing shrub populations, <br />especially core areas. <br />• Use of hunting pressure to reduce elk utilization of new reclamation where it can be <br />incorporated in a safe manner given proximity to active mining. Develop special seasons in <br />concert with CDOW for management of "refuge" elk. For obvious reasons, any activity in <br />this regard would have to be designed and approved for implementation in accordance with <br />applicable statutes. Furthermore, approvals from appropriate agencies (CDOW, MSHA, etc.) <br />will be obtained as necessary. <br />• Use of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) in key reclamation locations to encourage elk away <br />from maturing shrub populations. It has been documented that this taxon is heavily utilized <br />by foraging elk. <br />• Implement procedures for micro -habitat development whereby snow catchment is encouraged <br />and shrub heavy mixes can be applied. <br />Collom — Rule 4, Page 41 Revision Date: 9/28/11 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />