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As part of EFCI's comprehensive reclamation plan, shrubs and tree seedling transplants will be <br />established on disturbed areas (except where eliminated b}' surface owner reques[) to meet regulatory <br />shrub density requirements, provide vegetative diversity, and establish effective winter browse for <br />domestic livestock and wildlife species. These seedlings will normally be transplan[ed in early spring <br />as soon as ground conditions are suitable for transplanting activities. <br />Generally, vegetative materials occurring within those areas disturbed by Southfield operations consist <br />of grasses, Eorbs and small to medium woody plants. These materials do not interfere with [opsoi] <br />removal operations, consequently EFCI recovers all vegetative materials including seeds, roots and <br />plant fragments during topsoil stripping operations, incorporating these vegetative propagules with <br />soil materials. Where regraded areas are available for placement of soil and incorpora[ed plant <br />materials, direct placement or live topsoil handling promotes re-establishment of indigenous plant <br />species and can increase vegetative diversity. With placement in fall, live handled topsoil lies fallow <br />through the winter and native vegetation germinates from plant propagules contained in the soil <br />during the spring when soil moisture/temperature conditions are favorable. The resulting initial <br />vegetative culture has proven effective in promoting subsequent establishment of a diversity of native <br />vegetative species. Live topsoil handling will be utilized [o the extent operationally feasible as a <br />supplemental seeding method to increase vegetative diversity and promote re-establishment of native <br />plant species. <br />Seedbed Preparation. Prior to seeding, EFCI will prepare regraded and topsoiled areas to provide a <br />firm uncompacted seedbed. As previously noted in the discussion of topsoil handling presented in <br />Section 2.05.3, Operation Plan -Permit Area, topsoil replacement thicknesses are limited in certain <br />areas by the volume of topsoil available for removal. In [here areas, surface manipulation o£ replaced <br />topsoil would result in significant mixing of topsoil and underlying surficial materials. In order to <br />minimize such mixing, surficial materials will be deep ripped prior to topsoil replacement. Following <br />replacement of limited topsoil depths, surface manipulations will be minimized and generally will be <br />limited to surface disking or tine harrowing in order to alleviate compaction and provide a suitable <br />seed bed. Similar practices will be <br />MR-48 2.05.4-19 Revised March 2003 <br />