2016-08-08_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (3)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS 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. As 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 south -facing slopes. Spoil will be graded to minimize long, uninterrupted slopes. Replacement of topsoil will be followed by chisel plowing and contour furrowing (when necessary). The efficacy of these mechanical techniques will continue to be closely monitored as changes to the reclamation program are initiated. Grazing All the lands reclaimed by Colowyo in the Collom area will not be grazed by livestock for a period of at least three years after seeding or planting and will be managed to promote the postmining land use. Incidental grazing by wildlife such as elk and deer will inevitably occur and could potentially impact vegetative establishment. Grazing by livestock will not commence until Colowyo has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Division that the vegetation on the reclaimed surface is adequately established and can be expected to withstand grazing pressures. Any grazing studies undertaken by Colowyo will not preclude or interfere with postmining vegetation sampling as required in section 4.15.8. Field Trials Please refer to Volume 1, Section 4.15.6 for more details on specific field trials that have occurred on the existing permit area in the past. Given the fact the post -mine land use, reclamation plan, and mitigation efforts will focus on Greater Sage Grouse brood -rearing habitat in conjuction with grassland, Colowyo is not in favor of large scale "restoration" activities associated with mountain shrub communities beyond the inclusion of many of the species of concern within the reclamation seed mixes. However, Colowyo has accommodated CPW's request to incorporate approximately 750 small size exclosures into Collom reclamation areas on 150 acres at a density of approximately five exclosures per acre to meet their expectations for establishing tall shrub species. Colowyo has a long history of supporting scientific research through cooperative field trials involving the academic community, the Division, and other area mining operations. Colowyo has made many unsuccessful attempts to establish tall shrub communities, despite the utilization of the best technology of the time. Efforts undertaken to date include everything up to and including live transplantation of local mature plants, containerized plantings, direct drill and broadcast seedings. The two field trials described below are meant to provide additional information to Colowyo, DRMS and the CPW about the appropriate expectations for success/failure of establishing this habitat type at Colowyo in the context of a ten year bond clock and also to provide some baseline information that can be used to Collom — Rule 4, Page 19 Revision Date: 4/18/16 Revision No.: PR -04