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and desirable to achieve the approved postmining land uses of rangeland and wildlife habitat on <br /> all affected lands within the permit area. Details of the mine's revegetation plan are discussed in <br /> Section 2.05.4 of the original PAP. The permanent seed mixtures to be planted are found on <br /> Tables 2.05-7, 2.05-8, and 2.05-9, within the narrative of Section 2.05.4 of the PAP. These seed <br /> mixes were approved in April 2002, with TR-52. The primary seed mix (Table 2.05-7 of the <br /> PAP) is a diverse mix of cool season grasses, forbs, and shrubs. All of the grasses and shrubs are <br /> native species; two of the eight forbs are introduced legumes (cicer milkvetch and sanfoin). The <br /> introduced species make up less than 7% of the total mix on a seed per square foot basis and are <br /> considered desirable and necessary to provide a component of leguminous forbs. Table 2.05-8 of <br /> the PAP is a list of contingency substitutions for use on a case-by-case basis if species in the <br /> primary mix are not available. Table 2.05-9 of the PAP is a shrub mix to be planted in <br /> designated shrub-only planting areas. Prior to 2002, introduced species made up a significantly <br /> higher percentage of the primary seed mix, based both on relative number of introduced species <br /> and seeds per square foot in the mix. None of the species proposed for planting are listed as <br /> poisonous or noxious plants. <br /> Seeding of forbs, shrubs, and grasses will be accomplished primarily by drilling during the fall, <br /> with broadcast seeding of wet or steep slopes. Small seeded species such as sagebrush are to be <br /> dribbled on the surface using open drill drop tubes when drill seeding is employed. When <br /> necessary, chemical fallowing will be used to eliminate vegetative competition, and fencing will <br /> be used to eliminate animal predation. Grazing of reclaimed sites will not be initiated without <br /> Division approval. <br /> Inclusion of aggressive introduced grass species in the primary seed mix prior to 2002 resulted in <br /> large areas dominated by a relatively small number of species, particularly smooth brome and <br /> intermediate wheatgrass, with relatively low diversity and low woody plant density. The TR-52 <br /> seed mix changes approved in April 2002 have resulted in improvements in diversity and woody <br /> plant density. The approval of TR-72 in June 2009 eliminated all introduced species from the <br /> seed mixes with the exception of cicer milkvetch. <br /> TR-82 (approved in June 2010) addressed Stipulation 12 and provided a detailed plan for the <br /> variable replacement depth of topsoil on the backfilled and re-graded portions of the West Pit <br /> and South Taylor Pit. Related to the variable topsoil, Colowyo also designed an area-specific <br /> seeding program. On steeper slopes (over 10 percent) deeper soil is placed and the area is seeded <br /> to grassland for post-mining grazing and for erosion control. On flatter slopes the areas were <br /> covered with four inches of topsoil (on average) and seeded to sagebrush steppe. The sagebrush <br /> steppe areas are targeted to provide Sage Grouse habitat. <br /> TR-84 (approved in July 2011) addressed Stipulation 13 and provided a detailed plan for the <br /> procedures and possible locations for the tall mountain shrub and tree planting areas in the South <br /> Taylor Pit. During the fall of 2011, Colowyo planted seedlings in a study plot in the X-pod area. <br /> The plot is approximately three acres in the northeast corner of Section 20 (Township 3N, Range <br /> 93W) and is shown on Exhibit 5A of the 2017 Annual Reclamation Report. Species include <br /> True Mountain Mahogany, Aspen, Chokecherry and Serviceberry. Topsoil thickness is varied <br /> Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 5,2023 <br /> Permit Renewal No. 8 Page 152 <br />