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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS
<br />longer period of time associated with development of shrub dominated stands, the occurrence of "bare
<br />areas" within the field trial plots will not disqualify a bond release block or portion of the block from
<br />Phase 2 bond release. Presence of "bare areas" will be assessed by the Division for Phase 3 bond release,
<br />in accordance with the Bond Release Guidelines. Remedial measures determined to be necessary by the
<br />Division and the operator due to stand failure within the field trial areas will not reinitiate the bond
<br />liability period.
<br />In 2010, SL -05, a Phase III bond release application, was submitted by Colowyo. As a result of the onsite
<br />inspection by the Division, a minor revision, MR -103 was created to establish these shrub plots and their
<br />associated fencing as permanent, post -mining features.
<br />Buried Topsoil Test Plots
<br />In 2006 under MR -83, Colowyo planned to initiate a buried topsoil protocol to try to increase
<br />establishment of shrubs on the mine -site. Two, two -acre test plots were to be topsoiled and then covered
<br />with six inches of "benign', nutrient -poor overburden in the attempt to slow or delay emergence and
<br />growth by competing grasses and annual weeds, thereby allowing shrub seed additional time to break
<br />dormancy and emerge. Prior to seeding taking place one composite soil sample was to be taken from
<br />each test plot. The constituents to be analyzed were texture, fertility, pH, percent coarse fragments,
<br />electrical conductivity, sodium adsorption ratio, selenium, and boron. To further encourage shrub
<br />growth, the seed mix was to be heavily weighted toward shrubs. The seed mixture that was to be used on
<br />the test plots is shown below.
<br />Seed Mix - Buried Topsoil Test Plot Seed Mix - Colowyo Mine - 2106
<br />Recomm eds
<br />Species
<br />Synonym
<br />Common Name
<br />Seeds/ Ib.
<br />lbs. / acre
<br />sq. foot
<br />Agropyron dasystwhyum
<br />Elymus lanceolatus ssp. lanceolatus
<br />Thickspike Wheatgrass
<br />154,000
<br />0.25
<br />0.88
<br />Agropyron smiths
<br />Pasropyrum smithii
<br />Western Wheatgrass
<br />110,000
<br />0.25
<br />0.63
<br />Agrnpyron spwtum inerme
<br />Pse-br-grreria spicata ssp. inerme
<br />Beardless Bluebunch Wheatgrass
<br />117,000
<br />0.50
<br />1.34
<br />Agrnpyron trachycaulum
<br />Elymus trachycaulus ssp. bachywulus
<br />Slender Wheatgrass
<br />159,000
<br />0.50
<br />1.83
<br />PW a-pla
<br />Big Bluegrass
<br />882,000
<br />0.10
<br />2.02
<br />Subtotal =
<br />1.60
<br />6.71
<br />Achdle3 mdllldium
<br />Western Yarrow
<br />2,770,000
<br />0.10
<br />6.36
<br />ti
<br />Artemisia ludovrciana
<br />Louisiana Sagewort
<br />33,600
<br />0.75
<br />0.58
<br />9
<br />AsterdWensis
<br />Ofgulaslerascendens
<br />Pacific Aster
<br />2,668,000
<br />0.10
<br />6.12
<br />Unum lewisd
<br />Lewis Flax
<br />293,000
<br />0.20
<br />1.35
<br />00
<br />Artemisia frmli7 a
<br />Fringed Sage
<br />4,536,000
<br />0.05
<br />5.21
<br />Penstemon sbictus
<br />Rocky Mountain Penstemon
<br />592,000
<br />0.20
<br />2.72
<br />Subtotal =
<br />1.40
<br />22.33
<br />Amelanchieralmfole
<br />Saskatoon Serviceberry
<br />25,800
<br />1.50
<br />0.89
<br />Artemaa tndentata vaseyana
<br />Mountain Big Sagebrush
<br />2,500,000
<br />0.25
<br />14.35
<br />„
<br />Artemisia Lana
<br />Silver Sagebrush
<br />850,000
<br />0.75
<br />14.63
<br />Atriplexcanescens
<br />Fourwing Saltbush
<br />52,000
<br />1.00
<br />1.19
<br />CeMWAVIeslanata
<br />Wiinterfat
<br />56,700
<br />2.00
<br />2.60
<br />ChrysoMamnusnauseosus
<br />RubberRabbitbrush
<br />400,000
<br />0.50
<br />4.59
<br />m
<br />Purshia tndentata
<br />Bitterbrush
<br />15,000
<br />3.00
<br />1.03
<br />Rosa wooden
<br />Wood's Rose
<br />45,300
<br />1.50
<br />1.56
<br />5ymphorxaMos rotundddiius
<br />Mountain Snowberry
<br />75 000
<br />1.50
<br />2.58
<br />Subtotal =
<br />12.00
<br />43.44
<br />Total
<br />is.00
<br />72.46
<br />At the peak of each subsequent growing season, or shortly thereafter, for a period of at least 5 years, these
<br />test plots were to be evaluated for emergent shrub density, ground cover by species, and a visual
<br />evaluation of surficial erosion. This data would be reported annually in the Annual Reclamation Report.
<br />If data shows that there is promise as a shrub conducive reclamation procedure, DBMS may be contacted
<br />to initiate alternate reclamation procedures for the remainder of Colowyo reclamation.
<br />As of March, 2008, these test plots had not been constructed because of the impending revision to the
<br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-48 Revision Date: 8/28/17
<br />Revision No.: TR -115
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