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areas along Dry Creek and at the permanent pond sites, at least 150 of the 2,000 stems <br />will be tree species. <br />Woody plant density standards were amended in PR -3 and TR -50. The amended <br />standards reflect increased focus on establishment of shrubs in concentrated planting <br />areas, and uncertainties regarding aspen reestablishment. The revised overall woody plant <br />density standard for the mine is 200 stems per acre, with a standard of 2000 stems per <br />acre within concentrated planting areas (not including concentrated aspen planting sites). <br />In concentrated aspen planting sites, the density standard will be based on future test plot <br />results and planting strategies based on those results. In mesic drainage -wetter phase sites <br />along Dry Creek, and at permanent pond planting sites, the 2000 stem per acre stem <br />density standard will include at least 150 stems per acre as tree species. General location <br />of planting areas is shown on Exhibit 22-1 (former Exhibits 22-1 and 22-1A were <br />combined in PR -5). <br />Various revegetation plan refinements resulted from approval of PR -3 in May 2003. <br />The primary upland seed mix was amended to include mountain big sagebrush. The <br />"shrub only" seed mix (Mix 6) was amended to include a native forb component and <br />eliminate intermediate wheatgrass, an aggressive sod -forming introduced grass. The <br />procedures to be employed in the concentrated shrub establishment areas have been <br />modified in several respects to enhance success, including use of elk fencing, use of <br />initial supplemental irrigation, use of combined seedling transplanting and seeding with <br />the native shrub/forb seed mix, and preparation of a very rough seedbed with track -hoe <br />or dozer blade gouges. These modified practices will apply to areas topsoiled and <br />revegetated during or subsequent to 2003. <br />In addition, within PR -3, the operator committed to implement an aspen reestablishment <br />field study that will evaluate the feasibility of aspen reestablishment on reclaimed areas, <br />using sapling transplants obtained from aspen stands on the permit area. The study will <br />include three rates of supplemental irrigation and two soil treatments, as well as a non- <br />irrigated control. The detailed study design is presented in Tab 22, Appendix 22-3. <br />Specific aspen reestablishment approaches to be employed on an operational basis in the <br />future, as well as success standards for aspen, will be based on information gained from <br />the study. Certain design and scheduling changes associated with the aspen study were <br />approved by TR -47 in February 2004. Under the revised schedule, planting of the <br />selected aspen saplings was to occur in the fall of 2004. Within TR -47, the operator also <br />committed to limited aspen sapling planting in locations other than the primary field <br />study location. Planting was to be in specified locations, using specific planting <br />approaches. In addition, the revision included a commitment to establish aspen sapling <br />"farms", small fenced areas where mature aspen would be mechanically treated to <br />stimulate suckering of saplings for future reclamation use. The aspen study and other <br />aspen plantings have been conducted to date in conformance with the amended plan and <br />schedule. <br />Successful woody stem density establishment is based upon five standards. Two of the <br />33 <br />