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J woody planting sites was reduced, the over-all acreage of woody habitat has increased, when the "undisturbed islands" are included. I recommend that this documentation be accepted, pending review comments from the Division of Wildlife. Item tentatively resolved. 25. SCC properly amended text reference to specify a 20 foot road width for the permanent post-mine ranch road. Item resolved. 26. Seed mix lA was amended as requested to include mountain big sagebrush and to delete serviceberry and chokecherry, as suggested. Item resolved. 27. Amended text on page 19, combined with revised Map Exhibit 22-1, provides generally appropriate detail regarding techniques for enhancement of woody plant establishment success. We have only one concern. After considering the relatively generalized "variable topsoil strategy" described, it is not clear how the plan would be quantified or enforced, without designated (mapped) zones with specified replacement thickness ranges. Also, it could be questioned whether the plan described would comply with the "approximate uniform, stable thickness..." requirement of Rule 4.06.4(2)(a). The amended plan does include an appropriate commitment to replace a thick topsoil layer (3.5 to 4.0 feet) in designated aspen and mesic tree and shrub planting sites. Further, we note that the plan already includes (Tab 22, page 18) a commitment indicating that other concentrated shrub seeding sites "will receive approximately 0.5 feet of topsoil and will be deep ripped. Based on the topsoil depth variation that will be provided by the deep soil aspen sites and the shallow soil upland shrub sites, we request that the Snal bulleted item on amended page 19 be deleted. 28. Text regarding broadcast seeding and hydro-seeding was properly amended as requested. However, in response to DMG's recommendation that big sagebrush seed be broadcast or dribble seeded, SCC responded "...as far as broadcast or dribble seeding big sagebrush; there are over 700 acres that will ultimately be seeded with Mix lA, it is not practical or time/labor efficient to broadcast or dribble seed this many acres." The 700 acres figure mentioned by SCC would seem to encompass the entire life of mine acreage seeded with Mix 1 A. The recommended modification would only apply to those areas seeded subsequent to PR-2 revision approval. Further, we note that in response to DOW comments, SCC stated in their letter of July 7, 2005, "the [mountain big sagebrush] seed will be broadcast seeded at a rate of 0.25 lbs. per acre". Please reconsider the response to the DMG recommendation, in light of the response to DOW recommendation, and amend the Tab 22 seeding narrative as appropriate.