2018-02-08_PERMIT FILE - C2010089A (3)

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All areas are used as Pastureland or Grazingland during other periods in the year, especially as winter feeding areas based on surface landowners' needs. Other than farmsteads, facilities and a small abandoned orchard, the large extent of natural vegetation consists of the Sagebrush type which makes up most of the balance of the disturbance area. This type reflects significant disturbance of the original sagebrush type and the intensity of use from associated agricultural activities. These sagebrush areas are not irrigated and are typically located on areas that are upslope of the irrigation ditches, where it is impractical to irrigate. As indicated in the existing Land Uses description in Section 2.04.3 and Vegetation description in Section 2.04.10, the postmining land use will be similar to the pre -mining land use. The postmining land use will be primarily agricultural in nature consisting of improved Dryland Pasture and/or Irrigated Pasture/Cropland where sufficient irrigation waters are available, site conditions follow and where such levels of management are consistent with the landowners' wishes. Postmining Land Use - By Property The postmining land uses for the NHN permit area are shown on Map 2.05.5-1: Postmining Land Use. Comparing the information between Maps 2.04.3-1 and 2.05.5-1, most of the existing land uses found within the NHN permit area will be reclaimed to similar plant communities and land uses with one exception. On the Glasier property, the landowner has leased the land to ERMR but specifically withheld the water rights associated with this site, which have been transferred to property located several miles away. As a result it will be impossible without the water rights to reclaim any of the existing Irrigated Pasture/Cropland on the Glasier property to Irrigated Pasture/Cropland as there is no water available to do so. NHN believes that according to the definition of Pastureland as found in the DRMS regulations at 1.04(71)(b) and the OSM regulations at 30 CFR 701.5 this does not constitute a change in land use in as much as irrigation is one of only several management inputs that define "Pastureland" which is dominated by an assemblage of "adapted, domesticated forage plants." Therefore, this change is technically not a change in land use. Glasier Property On the Glasier property, the existing land uses include; conversion of "Grazingland-Big Sagebrush" (GL -SB) to Dryland Pasture, conversion of "Pastureland -Irrigated" (PLI) to Dryland Pasture and conversion of all "Residential/Agricultural Disturbance" and "Roads" (RS & RD) to Dryland Pasture. As shown on Map 2.05.5-1: Postmining Land Use, all of the Glasier Property within the permit area has a postmining land use of Dryland Pasture (65.2 acres). ERMR-Meehan Property On the ERMR-Meehan property, the existing land uses include; conversion of "Grazingland-Big Sagebrush" (GL -SB) to Dryland Pasture, conversion of "Residential/Agricultural Disturbance" Section 2.05.5 Page 2 January 2018 (PR -02)