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2.05.4 Reclamation Plan <br />1. Pages 13-12 through -17c reflect a revision to seed mixtures 1 <br />and 2. Peabody Coal should provide a brief discussion for the <br />modification in seed mixtures from what was originally approved <br />to what is proposed. <br />RESPONSE: <br />Seed mixes, revegetation methods, plant establishment and species <br />composition of the revegetated plant communities are reviewed annually <br />as part of Peabody Coal Company's (PCC) in-house reclamation and <br />revegetation monitoring program. This program does not result in <br />formal data collection, but is carried out on a qualitative basis <br />in order to insure that the seed mixes and revegetation methods are <br />providing the results desired. Seed mixes 1 and 2 have been modified <br />to reflect changes requested by the regulatory authority, removal of <br />some introduced species in order to maximize the number of native <br />species, balancing of individual species rates for better stand <br />composition, and an overall reduction in the seeding rate to better <br />facilitate seeding operations and reduce the opportunity for excessive <br />competition between seedlings in a heavily seeded stand. These <br />changes will result in better species diversity, improved forage <br />utility, and improved seeding operations. The following examples <br />illustrate some of these changes. Alfalfa (1.ledicago sativa) was <br />• originally seeded at 21bs/PLS per acre drilled-an excessively heavy <br />rate. A rangeland type alfalfa (Medicago falcata) has been <br />substituted for the hay producing type and the rate reduced to .25 <br />lbs/PLS per acre drilled. This should achieve the desired results of <br />alfalfa as a desirable memeber of the forb component and not a <br />dominant in the stand. Yellow blossom sweetclover (Melilotus <br />officinalis) has been removed entirely frcm the mix. Sma seeded <br />species such as common orchardgrass (Dactylis lomerata), sheep fescue <br />(Festuca ovina), and Canada bluegrass Poa compressa) were <br />significantly reduced in seeding rate to reflect the a~ rge number of <br />seeds per PLS pound. Species such as big bluegrass (Poo ampla}, basin <br />wildrye (Elymus cinereus), and Kentucky bluegrass (Poo pratensis) were <br />added to Seed Mix 2 to reflect species existing on site prior to <br />mining. Varieties have been specified to insure that those species <br />and varieties with the greatest genotypic adaptability to the Seneca <br />Mine area be used in revegetation efforts. Finally, the supplemental <br />forb and shrub seed lists were adjusted to include a more reasonable <br />list of potential species based on site adoption and commercial <br />availability. <br /> <br />19 Revised 8/27/86 <br />