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the largest affected area within the permit area <br />Whenever possible, direct hauling of topsoil will be maximized on reclaimed areas and the <br />amount of time topsoil remains in stockpiles will be minimized. The viable seed and other plant <br />propagules contained in the topsoil will reestablish shrubs as well as a variety of native forbs <br />and grasses. Howard and Samuel 119791, in studies carried out at Pittsburg and Midway Coal <br />Company's Edna Mine near Oak Creek, found that 728 shrubs per acre had volunteered in only <br />two growing seasons on direct hauled topsoil areas. Pfannenstiel and Wendt 119841 found <br />similar regeneration in studies at Peabody's Seneca II Mine during the summer of 1982, where <br />an average density of 705 shrubs per acre was documented in direct hauled areas. Much of <br />the sampled area had only been topsoiled in the last several years. Observations at the Energy <br />Mine (Crofts and Parkin, 1979) also indicate extensive volunteering of shrubs. Additional <br />monitoring at the Seneca Mine shows continuing regeneration in new and old areas. Numerous <br />native forbs and grasses have also volunteered on all areas studied Isee 1987, 1988, 1989 <br />Seneca II Revegetation Monitoring Reportsl. Unfortunately, native tall shrub species show <br />initial good regeneration in live topsoil areas, but survival drops off when competing <br />herbaceous species become established. The spread of these established tall shrubs or the <br />establishment of new individuals has been limited in reclaimed areas at the Seneca 11 Mine <br />because of herbaceous competition and the inherently slow development of these native woody <br />species within early successional time frames coincident with the liability period. The required <br />presence of these woody species in reclaimed areas may be more practical than a required <br />density. The presence of these species indicates that over time, woody communities will <br />reestablish, while the achievement of a set density, particularly if the density is high, is <br />speculative at best and does not adequately account for the relatively short ecological time <br />frames associated with the liability period. <br />As shown on Exhibits 22-1 and 22-1A, Postmining Vegetation Map - Mine Permit Area, <br />selected areas will receive supplemental shrub seeding or will have shrubs and trees planted. <br />These areas will not be extensive, but will be oriented to provide habitat diversity, mitigate the <br />loss of cover in the larger mining blocks, provide edge in the reclaimed habitat, supply <br />supplemental forage for livestock and browse for wildlife, and provide areas where woody <br />plants may regenerate or spread from. Shrub and tree plantings were arranged to provide <br />travel corridors for wildlife. <br />The revegetation plan, initially emphasizing the postmin ing land use of livestock grazing <br />7 Revised 9/98 <br />