2023-08-11_REVISION - M1982044 (22)

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no, or very little soil or plant growth medium available on the site. Upon reclamation, whatever soil or growth media is found, is to be used within selected limited areas, and is to be placed at a thickness ranging from 6 to 12 inches. ( c) (ii) It is anticipated that placement of the limited soils and seeding will be performed at the conclusion of mining. Only the edges of the mined out pit will be considered for the placement of soils and seeding, and since the gravel-surfaced level bottom area will be put to beneficial use, and any grass planted in that area would be a nuisance and could produce potential fire hazards for vehicles having catalytic converters. Seed bed preparation, is to be performed by moving material from soil stockpiles to the point of placement and then seeded using the approved seed mixture. The seed will hand broadcasted as appropriate and will be covered by hand raking or by harrow methods. Experience shows that covering of the seed results in a higher number of sprouts per pound of seed sowed. The seed mix recommended will be sowed at a rate of not less than 10 pounds per acre, or per supplier's recommendations. Reclamation mats or netting might be used to assist vegetation if deemed necessary by the engineer. Seed will be applied in early spring or late fall to maximize the germination rate and to increase the success of the revegetation. A list of typical species that have been shown to grow in the area includes the grasses, forbes and shrubs shown below. The use of fertilizers is not anticipated to be necessary to obtain reclamation objectives. (c)(iii-iv) The local soil conservation district is selling what they term a "Teller-Park Dryland Pasture and Stabilization Mix" that contains three species of Wheatgrasses, Meadow Brome, Ryegrass, and an Orchard grass. This mix of grasses is listed in Exhibit D. Their goal is to produce a shotgun approach for reclamation, and the seed mix that contains members of these species will likely be suitable with just a few species dominating the final vegetative cover. The listed mixture is the current recommended mix, and in the future, that mixture might be modified if the soil conservation district believes that another species might be more beneficial. If they find that one or more of the grasses have performed well in previous reclamation programs in the area, it might be recommended that a particular grass over others be used. It also might be that DRMS has experience with other mines in the area that have the same hillside slopes, rock types, and exposures, and can provide additional input based on their experience. The common goal of both the regulators, the engineer, and property owner is to establish the best suitable vegetative cover in the least amount of time.