2020-07-02_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS w.r.�62.L14M,Oitxtt».•C T.L•..:`\i••: + r—def f5 'd . .•=r^`tLi'.'�"2Ni:8: '#1'ke •wWk.'. o- ":hV tAplM1d, >= In addition to cover sampling along these transects, CSU estimated shrub establishment and shrub height in each demonstration plot within small quadrats along each transect. At Colowyo, the quadrats were 0.25 m2 and were located every 20 m along the transect for a total of 6.25 m2 per plot. Within each of these quadrats all shrubs were identified to species and heights of individuals were recorded. Monitoring results were provided each year. A final project report was made available by June 15, 2005. The final report detailed the shrub establishment results by treatment method. Final report results also provided a framework for reclamation plan improvements that are designed to enhance native shrub establishment, vegetation community diversity and wildlife habitat, thereby facilitating reclamation and bond release success. [As noted previously, interpretation of these results must be tempered by the fact that the revegetation year of 2000 at Colowyo was an ideal year climatologically for the establishment of sagebrush and other shrubs from seed,regardless of underlying growth media. This observation was substantiated by excellent shrub establishment across the mine regardless of trials, revegetation metrics, or location.] Each mine will evaluate the successful treatments from the plots at their mine. These techniques may be incorporated into the reclamation plan through a revision to encourage native shrub establishment and to create community diversity. Aspen and Tall Shrub Establishment Areas As a result of negotiations with CPW and DRMS, Colowyo has committed to implementing three field trials. Based upon initial estimates of disturbance to aspen and tall shrub habitats in the South Taylor area, a determination was made that the establishment of 20 acres of aspen habitat and 20 acres of tall shrub habitat (combination of thin and thick topsoil locations) be established in the South Taylor reclamation area(mining disturbance area). As a result of subsequent changes to the mine plan, approximately (7% or 14 acres) of the aspen and (41% or 347 acres) of the tall shrub habitat previously targeted for disturbance will no longer be affected. A reduced area of(18.5) acres of aspen and (12.0) acres of tall shrubs will now be pursued at Colowyo. The field trials are meant to provide information to Colowyo, DRMS and the CDOW about the appropriate expectations for success/failure of establishing these habitat types at Colowyo in the context of a ten year bond clock and also to provide some baseline information that can be used to modify practices and the plant materials used to meet the current expectations (acres of each habitat type identified above). Another potential use of the information provided by these trials may be to provide Colowyo with an avenue for relief of the aspen and tall shrub establishment area expectations for South Taylor should efforts prove to be unsuccessful despite the incorporation of best management practices. The standard interim revegetation monitoring techniques and practices(performed by a third party) applied to the other reclamation areas at Colowyo will be utilized annually to measure progress of the trials through and beyond 2016,when Colowyo,DRMS and CPW will revisit the expectations for further larger scale establishment of these habitat types once reclamation activities begin in earnest in the South Taylor area(currently expected post 2017). All data will be captured, collated and presented as part of the Annual Reclamation Report provided to DRMS. Alternative methods for complying with the aspen and tall shrub establishment areas may be negotiated with CPW after Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-54 Revision Date: 1/22/20 Revision No.: TR-136