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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />other species under similar conditions. The CSU study and two progress reports are set forth in <br />Exhibit 10, Vegetation Information. None of the introduced species are poisonous or noxious. For <br />further discussion of the value of introduced species for obtaining the desired post -mining <br />vegetative community of the same seasonal variety and lifeform of the pre -mined area, refer to <br />Section 2.05. <br />For post -2008 revegetation, the seed mix is comprised entirely of native species with the specific <br />exceptions described below. Introduced species would only be utilized in four possible <br />circumstances. The first would be reclaimed areas exhibiting a post -mining land use of pastureland <br />(specifically targeting domestic livestock grazing and/or haying operations). The second would <br />be in small areas potentially susceptible to excessive erosion where at the discretion of Colowyo's <br />reclamation coordinator, introduced species would provide the necessary protection. (Prior to use <br />of aggressive taxa to combat areas that are highly susceptible to erosion, an MR or TR (as <br />appropriate) will be obtained from CDRMS to address such circumstances.) The third possible <br />circumstance would be the inclusion of orchard grass at elevated densities in certain locations <br />designed to encourage elk away from other sites. (It has been documented that elk specifically <br />seek this species for consumption.) The fourth circumstance would be inclusion of modest <br />quantities of small burnett or nitrogen fixing legumes such as cicer milkvetch or alfalfa as <br />supplemental forage for deer, elk, and livestock. In addition, cicer milkvetch has proven to be an <br />excellent "habitat" plant for insects that are very important to foraging sage grouse chicks during <br />the brooding period. <br />4.15.3 Seeding and Planting <br />is The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal period for <br />favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The planting period <br />and other revegetation metrics for Colowyo are set forth in Section 2.05.4. <br />4.15.4 Mulching and Other Soil Stabilizing Practices <br />As addressed in Section 2.05.4, Colowyo currently does not mulch, chisel plow, or terrace, because <br />sufficient surface roughness survives the topsoil laydown process to maintain the appropriate <br />roughness for modeled sediment control conditions. When necessary, chisel plowing, discing, <br />terracing and/or contour furrows could/would be utilized to stabilize, reduce compaction and <br />increase the moisture retention of graded topsoiled areas. Chisel plowing is the most preferred <br />method of initiating surface roughness at Colowyo, beyond the roughness created through topsoil <br />laydown activities. Areas less than 10% slope at Colowyo have been identified as potentially <br />targeted areas for the Sagebrush Steppe land use and will essentially require a smooth seedbed <br />surface. If these Sagebrush Steppe areas occur in large patches in the future and encompass long <br />sweeping slopes, moderate contour furrows will be established to mitigate any future sheet flow <br />and loss of the topsoil resource. Efforts will be made to establish reclamation blocks along the <br />contour of slopes in order to eliminate the loss of the topsoil resource onto spoil areas. All other <br />areas targeted for the grazingland land use will generally be on slopes greater than 10% and <br />depending on the size of each reclamation unit will need to be chisel plowed (or ripped with a <br />dozer) at a minimum if topsoil laydown activities do not produce sufficient surface roughness to <br />limit the excessive formation of rills on first and second year reclamation blocks by "normal" <br />Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-48 Revision Date: 5/25/18 <br />Revision No.: RN -07 <br />