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the largest affected area within the permit area. • Whenever possible, direct hauling of topsoil will be maximized on reclaimed areas and the ' amount of time topsoil remains in stockpiles will be minimized. ~ The viable seed and other plant propagules contained in the topsoil will reestablish shrubs as well as a variety~of native forbs and grasses. Howard and Samuel 119791, in studies carried out at Pittsburg and Midway Coal Company's Edna Mine near Oak Creek, found that 728 shrubs per acre had volunteered in only .two growing seasons on direct. hauled topsoil areas. Pfannenstiel and Wendt 119841 found similar regeneration in studies at Peabody's Seneca II Mine during the summer of 1982, where an average density of 705 shrubs per acre was documentedin direct hauled areas. Much of the sampled area had only been topsoiled in the last several years. Observations at the Energy Mine (Crofts and Parkin, 19791 also indicate extensive volunteering of shrubs. Additional monitoring at the Seneca Mine shows continuing regeneration in new and old areas. Numerous native forbs and grasses have also volunteered on all areas studied (see 1987, 1988, 1989 Seneca II Revegetation Monitoring Reportsl. Unfortunately, native tall shrub species show initial good regeneration in live topsoil areas, _ but survival drops off when competing herbaceous species become established. The spread of these established tall shrubs or the establishment of new individuals has been limited in reclaimed areas at the • Seneca II Mine because of herbaceous competition and the inherently slow development of these native woody species within early successional time frames coincident with~the liability period. The required presence of these .woody species in reclaimed areas 'may be more practical than a required density.. The presence .of these species indicates that over .time, woody communities will reestablish, while the achievement of a set density, particularly if the density is high, is speculative at best and.does not adequately account for the relatively short ecological.time frames associated with the liability period. As shown on Exhibits 22-1 and 22-1 A, Postmining Vegetation Map - Mine Permit Area, selected areas will receive supplemental shrub seeding or will have shrubs and trees.planted. These areas will not be extensive, but will be oriented to provide habitat diversity, mitigate the loss of cover in the larger mining blocks, provide edge in the reclaimed ,habitat, supply supplemental forage for livestock and browse for wildlife, .and provide areas where woody plants may regenerate or spread from. Shrub and tree plantings were arranged to provide travel corridors for wildlife. The revegetation plan, initially emphasizing the postmining land use of livestock grazing, • ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ .. 7 Revised 9/98. ~ ~i