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MMRR Quarry, M-2004-067 <br />Response to June 30 Adequacy Review (as amended) <br />August 19, 2005 <br />Page 13 <br />foster the growth of grasses and other plantings suited to the land in eastern <br />Gilpin County. <br />The operator will also commit to amending fines material, to be placed on site as <br />plant growth medium. In particular, a mound or void may be developed using <br />amended fines material to provide suitable plant growth medium for trees and <br />shrubs. A total soil cover or void depth of at least 24" will be provided where <br />trees or shrubs will be transplanted to the site. <br />34. In conformance with Rule 6.4.5(2)(1), please specify the time of year or season when trees <br />and shrubs will be planted. Also, please specify the minimum number (or density per acre) of <br />trees and shrubs surviving at the time of bond release. Finally, the Division requests that the <br />applicant commit to either a watering program to help establish the trees and shrubs or a <br />contingency plan for tree and shrub establishment assuming a 50% failure rate during the first 2 <br />years of establishment. <br />Trees and shrubs may be transplanted to the site in the spring or fall planting <br />season. Seeding will take place in the fall, or at other times of year with mulching <br />sufficient to promote germination. <br />As a general revegetation performance standard, the total cover provided by <br />vegetation at the time of reclamation release shall be sufficient to prevent wash <br />out and other unstable, erosive soil conditions. The reclamation planting <br />schedule for trees and shrubs calls for 825 woody plants, of which at least 700 <br />shall be surviving at the time of bond release. <br />For the purposes of bonding and enforcement, the establishment of trees and <br />shrubs during the first two growing seasons will be subject to a contingency <br />program that assumes 50% of trees and shrubs will require replacement. This <br />contingency program is noted as an additional bond cost in the portion of this <br />letter addressed to Exhibit L. A watering program is also desirable, and the <br />operator may also engage in water to the extent feasible and warranted to <br />preserve plantings. For a discussion of watering and contingencies for <br />establishment, please see Item 35 below. <br />35. The applicant has proposed a watering program, using a variety of methods, to enhance the <br />viability of newly established vegetation. This may be particularly beneficial to help establish <br />healthy tree and shrub transplants. In conformance with Rule 6.4.5(2), please describe the <br />estimated volume of water that may be needed, the source of water to be used, how the water <br />will be applied to the trees and shrub transplants, and the length of time required for watering. <br />As noted in the March 23, 2005 adequacy response, the intent of the reclamation <br />plan is to utilize plants that are adapted to the native water budget and will <br />survive and provide for the post-mining land use of wildlife habitat without the <br />introduction of a permanent irrigation system. Permanent irrigation is not only <br />impractical given the nature of the quarry site, it is also inappropriate to the <br />process of reclaiming land to self-regenerating wildlife habitat. This is noted to <br />