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RULE 2 PERMITS <br />and the pursuit of a "land -use" based reclamation program. Furthermore, this commitment on the part of <br />Colowyo is based on the fact that recent experience and advancements in reclamation science now dictate <br />less stringent requirements for a 10 -year bond responsibility period. Historically, woody plant density <br />success criterion, developed more than 30 years ago when Colowyo began surface operations, were <br />established at too high a level over too short a time period to be consistently achievable on a large scale <br />given the technology and regulatory limitations at the time. <br />Revegetation Plan <br />Following the retopsoiling of an area, any necessary fertilization, surface preparation, berm development, <br />construction of contour furrows, and seeding of the reclamation will take place. <br />The reclamation seed mixture for areas targeting grassland (and erosion control), as shown in Volume 15, <br />Table 2.05-7, Reclamation Seed Mixture, contains sufficient diversity for ecological stability and is <br />appropriate for reclamation areas in the Collom area. The seed mixture contains a variety of grasses, <br />forbs and shrub species well adapted to the soil and moisture conditions found at Colowyo. The diverse <br />seed mixture is capable of self-selection for each reclaimed micro -habitat encountered in the reclaimed <br />areas. The diverse seed mixture is required to ensure quick erosion control for the first few years of <br />reclamation as well as obtaining the desired post -mining vegetative community with the same seasonal <br />variety and lifeform of the pre -mined area. <br />The species and seeding rates indicated on this "grassland" mix resulted from in-depth analyses of past <br />mixes and the resulting emergence and dominance within revegetated areas. A total of eleven different <br />measurement events on Colowyo reclamation coupled with a performance evaluation for each taxon in <br />the 2002 mix resulted in development of the mix indicated on Volume 15, Table 2.05-7 as well as Table <br />2.05-9. Examples of changes resulting from this analysis include: elimination of streambank wheatgrass <br />(less palatable and redundant with thickspike), elimination of big bluegrass from the grassland mix for <br />lack of performance, elimination of Sainfoin from both mixes for lack of performance, and substantial <br />increases in the amount of sagebrush seed in both grassland and especially sagebrush steppe targeted <br />mixes. These changes, including the planted amounts, have resulted in an increase in the number of seeds <br />per square foot, from 29.2 / ftz to 75.7 / W. Much of the increase is due to the substantial increase of <br />sagebrush seed from 0.02 pounds PLS/acre to 0.5 pounds PLS/acre. This change has been adopted to <br />increase the potential for development of shrub patches within the grassland community, to add structural <br />and nutritional diversity to the community and overall wildlife habitat value. If too much sage results <br />from this mix the amount of sagebrush seed can be reduced in subsequent reclamation areas (with <br />Division approval). If excess shrub numbers result from early revegetation efforts, then managerial <br />techniques are readily available to reduce sage populations once the land surface has been transferred <br />back to the landowner if Colowyo does not choose to reclassify the area as sagebrush steppe and apply for <br />bond release under those criteria. <br />Volume 15, Table 2.05-8, List of Contingency Substitutions for Table 2.05-7 and Table 2.05-9, provides <br />the approved list of contingency substitutions for the seed mixes should certain taxa be unavailable or <br />unwarranted in any given year (also appropriate for use on Collom area reclamation units). <br />The reclamation seed mixture for areas targeting sagebrush steppe (wildlife habitat — sage grouse brood <br />rearing habitat), as shown in Volume 15, Table 2.05-9, Reclamation Seed Mixture, also contains <br />sufficient diversity for ecological stability and is appropriate for use on Collom area reclamation units. <br />This mixture contains a variety of grasses, forbs and shrub species well adapted to the soil and moisture <br />conditions found in the Collom area and should provide both the structural diversity and life form <br />diversity necessary for habitat requisites of young sage grouse. The seed mixture is capable of self- <br />Collom — Rule 2, Page 93 Revision Date: 11/16/16 <br />Revision No.: MR -166 <br />