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Exhibit E <br />Selection of Seeding Methods <br />• Broadcast seeding may be used to plant any of the seed mixtures. It is the preferred planting method for <br />the rangeland seed mixture and the augmentative shrub/tree mixture. Either broadcasting or drill seeding <br />may be used for the temporary cover seed mixture and the cover crop. Drill or no-till seeding methods are <br />the preferred planting method for the stabilization seed mixture. <br />Drill seeding methods may also be used to plant any of the seed mixtures. Drill seeding may be used in <br />combination with broadcast seeding to enhance the effectiveness of the stabilization seed mixture. In <br />areas where concentrated surface water runoff flows may be experienced, drilling seed perpendicular to <br />the direction of flow serves to promote the integrity of grass linings in channels, promote their stability <br />and improve water filtration characteristics. Additionally, drill and broadcast seeding may be used in <br />combination in order to simultaneously plant seeds with similar planting depth requirements. When <br />drilling and broadcasting are used in combination the seed mixture must be divided into sub-mixtures <br />with similaz planting requirements. <br />Irrigation <br />Irrigation will not be used to establish seed mixtures (see APPENDIX G -RECLAMATION PLAN <br />SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION). The use of suitable soil materials for subsoil and topsoil <br />reconstruction, the placement of water harvesting features throughout reclamation areas, and the use <br />preferential use of native plant species adapted to the Red Rock Mine site is expected [o promote the <br />germination and establishment of adequate vegetation covers on lands disturbed by proposed mining <br />operations. The potential costs and detrimental side effects of irrigating arid rangeland outweigh the <br />benefits. <br />• WEED MANAGEMENT <br />Rio Grande will develop and implement a weed inspection and integrated pest management ("IPM") <br />program to control noxious and tazgeted weeds identified by Pueblo County Weed Control District. <br />Annual weed inspections with an IPM program utilizing cultural, mechanical, chemical and biologic <br />weed control methods will be used to effectively control weed populations in the reclamation and within <br />the mining facility areas. Weed control activities are discussed in greater detail in APPENDIX G - <br />RECLAMATION PLAN SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION. <br />VEGETATION MONITORING <br />Monitoring the germination and growth of seed mixtures will be performed to ensure that adequate <br />vegetation stands are timely established that are capable of supporting the postlnining land use and that <br />permanently reclaimed lands are developing vegetation communities capable of meeting final vegetation <br />bond release requirements. Three types of monitoring will be used to track vegetation development <br />including: germination and establishment, interim monitoring and final vegetation bond release <br />monitoring. The sevegetated areas where these types of monitoring may be used are depicted on Exhibit <br />D Mining Plan Map. It is anticipated that establishment of vegetation following mining will take about <br />five years. Reclamation years are designated on Exhibit D to illustrate the stages of vegetation growth <br />and development. The three types of vegetation Jnonitoring will generally be conducted during the <br />reclamation years indicated below. <br />I • Germination and establishment monitoring will be conducted towards the end of the first full growing <br />season afrer planting (Reclamation Year 1=R1). This monitoring will be performed to assess the adequacy <br />1180-Mine Permit Exhibits (Ju1.03.02)FINAL.doc E_ ] ] <br />July 3, 2002 <br />