2020-03-24_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (39)

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RULE 2 PERMITS Within the post-mining vegetative community,seeded shrubs will supply the necessary requirements for nesting cover. Within the literature no specific location of nests seem to be indicated other than a preference for less dense and shorter shrubs which seem to indicate a need for quick escape should the hen be flushed unexpectedly. The density and structures of the shrub component within the post-mine community should provide the diversity of cover and density suited to sagegrouse nesting. Within the pre-mine vegetative community, insects and succulent vegetation provide the majority of the food for the developing chicks. As these food sources mature and dry, the grouse will move to areas still supporting succulent vegetation. These sites include springs, seeps, drainage bottoms and water impoundments. During the late summer and fall months,the important food plants dry up on the upland slopes and the grouse will tend to remain closer to available watering areas where some succulent vegetation is still available. Many of the grouse are then observed in the alfalfa and irrigated meadowlands on areas around the mining area. Within the post-mine vegetative community,the food component for brood rearing will be provided by insects and succulent vegetation on reclaimed areas early in chick development. Later into the summer months, as food sources dry up on the upland slopes, food will be available near water impoundments and drainage bottoms being returned to the post-mining topography. The literature indicates no optimum distance between nesting sites and food sources. Evidently, the location of nesting sites are independent of food sources, rather, the nesting locations are based on available cover, and the grouse movements are tied to the availability of succulent vegetation. For the most part, the mitigation measures indicated above had the desired impact of improving conditions for sage grouse on undisturbed areas under Colowyo control. To the contrary, original reclamation plan measures did not result in a sagebrush component consistent with the original projections in many areas of the mine, especially the old reclaimed units that were revegetated with"introduced"pasture grasses. Beginning in the late 1990s and as evident in revegetated units that have been seeded since then, the sagebrush component of reclamation has improved substantially, but is still not up to original expectations. Therefore, substantial changes to the reclamation plan have been introduced in this submittal to hopefully,make another quantum leap forward in the ability to establish sagebrush steppe communities. Many changes in techniques have been proffered including variable topsoil depths, significantly increased amounts of the appropriate sagebrush seed,proper planting techniques to encourage sagebrush,etc. Given success of these techniques elsewhere in the mining industry, the potential is strong that the original projections for sagebrush establishment at Colowyo will be realized from this point forward. Additional Mitigation Measures The pre-planning for a minimum amount of annual disturbance, the establishment of herbaceous Rule 2 Permits 2.05-46 Revision Date: 12/20/19 Revision No.: TR-135