2018-02-13_REVISION - C1981038 (20)

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COLORADO Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety Department of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 To: Clayton Wein From: Binns, Janet Date: February 13, 2018 Re: Bowie No. 1, C1981-038, TR63 review I have reviewed a technical revision, TR63, to the permit submitted by Bowie Resources, LLC (Bowie) for the Bowie No. 1 Mine, as requested in your memo dated, February 5, 2018. In this revision, Bowie Resources proposes to revise the reclamation success standards for woody stem density and species diversity. Bowie Resources has evaluated vegetative information and the approved post -mining land use of Rangeland and has proposed that the woody stem density success requirement be reduced from 800 to 1000 stems per acre to 100 stems per acre of shrub or sub -shrub species. The operator does not propose any change to the reclamation seed mix or to the reclamation plan. The operator proposes a revision to the woody stem density standard compatible with the approved post -mining land use. Much of the property subject to the proposed change is owned and managed by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (USBLM). In this area the dominant vegetation types are Pinyon -Juniper, Oakbrush, and Mixed Shrub. A reduction in the required shrub establishment standard is consistent with creating open grassy meadows within the shrub and tree dominant undisturbed landscape: 1. Bowie resources needs to provide comments from the landowners of the affected lands; BLM, and private landowners, that a reduction in required shrub establishment is compatible with the landowners' management plans (Rule 2.05.5(2)(a)(iii) and (b). As per Rule 4.15.8(7) consultation with Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife is needed to assure the reduction in required woody stem establishment is compatible with area management plans. Review of the baseline data collected in 1983 finds that relative cover attributed to many of the native perennial forbs would not meet the requirement of contributing greater than 3% relative cover. The approved reclamation seed mix, and efforts to provide initial soil stabilization promoted the establishment of graminoid (grass -like) species. One of the outcomes of the grass establishment and subsequent soil stabilization, is the reduced establishment of forb species. Native forb species are present in the 2013 and 2016