2002-03-04_REVISION - M1986015 (8)

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RECLAMATION PLAN Wildlife Considerations With the exception of the lands designated for an industrial end use, the reclamation plan will create a diverse array of habitats for wildlife. The water reservoir will undoubtedly be used by ducks and geese as well as shorebirds. The revegetated areas around the south and east sides and in the discharge area east of the large drainageway will provide a diverse habitat for songbirds and various wetland animal species. These lands will replace much of the value that existed prior to mining and will link with adjacent unmined lands that serve similar uses as habitat. Where these revegetated lands are adjacent to the river, the revegetation will provide a highly useful vegetated buffer that not only provides some physical protection but also a linkage in the habitat values of the actual river corridor and its adjacent lands. Topsoiling and Growth Media Topsoil will be taken from the soil stockpile and distributed over all lands that will receive vegetation. This includes all land north of the reservoir and all the backfill areas south and east of the reservoir except for the emergent wetland area. The emergent wetland area does not need topsoil as that form of vegetation will develop nicely in the overburden itself. Soil depths will vary depending upon the type of vegetation to be established. For lands where dryland pasture will be established (see Exhibit F-2) soil depths will be a minimum of one foot. For the Shrub/Scrub revegetation soil depths will be one to two feet. For Riparian Forest revegetation soil depths will be two to three feet. For the combination Riparian Forest and Shrub/Scrub revegetation the soil depths will vary more or less continuously from about three feet on the northern portions where trees will be planted to about one foot on the southern end adjacent to the emergent wetland. Wildlife habitat areas east of the large drainage and in the discharge facility will receive about one foot of soil where water is not present. Where water is present and in the remaining vegetation filter area no soil will be needed. In the event the plant site and no longer useful portions of the batch plant area will be revegetated rather than developed for industrial purposes, soil will be spread at a depth of about one foot. In those areas an additional treatment will be needed prior to topsoiling. Because of the heavy use of these lands, the underlying material will undoubtedly be compacted. If soil was placed directly on top of this compacted layer it is Pueblo East Pit Amendment Exhibit E Page 7