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the natural sandstone outcrop which forms a near vertical face above the portals to remain <br />undisturbed. The existing cut slope along the south side of the mine bench area will be cut <br />back a short distance to tie in with the backfill, and ensure a stable configuration. Stability <br />analyses performed by the operator indicate that the reclaimed slopes will achieve the <br />required 1.3 factor of safety. <br />The Division has previously approved a variance from the general grading requirements of <br />4.14.2 for reclamation to approximate original contour because the requirements of 4.27.1 <br />and 4.27.4 have been met. Please see Section B.VII of this document. <br />Xl. REVEGETATION — RULE 4.15 <br />Baseline vegetation information can be found in Section 4.5 of the application, and the <br />revegetation plan is addressed in Section 3.4. Affected vegetation types include juniper <br />woodland in the vicinity of the portal bench and upper road segment, shadscale shrubland <br />along the middle segment of the portal haul road, and greasewood shrubland in the office, <br />sediment pond, lower portal haul road, and McClave to Munger haul road areas. A separate <br />seedmix will be planted upon final reclamation within each of the vegetation types, as <br />delineated on Figure 3.1-1. Each of the seedmixes is composed of a diverse mix of warm <br />and cool season grasses, forbs, and shrubs, the majority of which are native species (Tables <br />3.4-1a, 3.4-1b, and 3.4-1c). <br />A weed control plan pursuant to new Rule 4.15.1(5) was incorporated into Section 4.5.14 <br />of the permit narrative via TR -15, in 2006. The plan, developed in consultation with the <br />Garfield County Weed Control Supervisor, addresses control of the noxious weeds whitetop <br />and Canada thistle on disturbed sites in the permit area, and also addresses control of downy <br />brome (cheatgrass) on the topsoil stockpile. <br />The following specific findings are required. <br />A. The Division proposes to approve the use of one introduced species, weeping alkali <br />grass (Puccinellia distans) in the reclamation seed mix. The species is desirable and <br />necessary to achieve the approved post -mining land use, is not poisonous or noxious, <br />and comprises less than 10% of the seeding rate on a seeds/square ft. basis, for each <br />planting area (4.15.2(3)). <br />B. The Division proposes to approve the use of certified noxious weed -free, grass hay or <br />straw mulch as a means to meet soil stabilization requirements. The mulch will be <br />crimped into the soil on drill seeded sites or anchored with tackifier on broadcast <br />seeded sites. If broadcast or hydro seeding is employed, the soil surface will be <br />extensively roughened prior to seeding by means of track -hoe gouging or contour <br />ripping (4.15.4). <br />C. Methods to measure vegetation cover, herbaceous production, species diversity, and <br />woody plant density are discussed in Section 3.4.9 of the application. These <br />techniques include point intercept for cover sampling, quadrat clipping for herbaceous <br />production estimates, and quadrat stem counts for woody plant density estimates. The <br />Division proposes to approve of these techniques (4.15.7(1)). The sampling <br />31 <br />