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<br />Technical Revision Application <br />Reclamation Plan Revisions <br />This Technical Revision addresses the following proposed changes to the approved reclamation <br />plan: <br />1. One seed mix for reclamation of all the disturbed areas, <br />2. Eliminating the woody stem planting, <br />3. Adjusting the sampling techniques and schedule, <br />4. Eliminating the Riparian designation for the Lower Hubbard Creek site and, <br />5. Adding a species diversity standard. <br />The requested revisions to the approved reclamation plan are being requested to provide the <br />operator an opportunity to obtain seed mixes for future reclamation easily and at a reasonable cost <br />and to update the reclamation success standards for current practice. Each of the proposed <br />changes will be discussed below. <br />1. One seed mix for reclamation of all disturbed areas. <br />Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. has experienced difficulty in finding certain <br />species in the mix and once located they are very expensive. The seed mix <br />proposed is based on the reclamation success at several mines with similar habitats. <br />These mines include Bear Mines 1 & 2, and the Blue Ribbon Mine. The proposed <br />mix also provides flexibility to accommodate the range of disturbed areas that exist <br />around the mine site. This was done by delineating a base list of species that will be <br />used when seeding is carried out followed by a list that Oxbow may use at its <br />discretion. Two or three of the optional species will be included at the rates listed. <br />This list of optional species allows Oxbow flexibility with regard to the price and <br />availability of the seed mix and allows the fine tuning of the mix for wetter or drier <br />sites. The proposed mix and optional list are shown on Table 1. <br />2. Eliminating woody stem planting. <br />Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. proposes not to transplant nursery stock in <br />reclaimed areas. Oxbow will seed shrubs as part of the approved seed mix to <br />provide the opportunity for woody stems. The seeding is expected to be <br />augmented by infiltration from the surcounding Juniper Woodland community. <br />Based on the experience at the Blue Ribbon mine, the reclaimed site offers an <br />enhanced wildlife habitat with more grasses and forbs present than would <br />otherwise be found in the in the surrounding woody stem community. <br />3. Adjusting the sampling techniques and schedule. <br />Oxbow Carbon & Minerals, Inc. proposes to modify the vegetation sampling to <br />coincide with the Phase II and III bond release applications and to update the <br />Page 1 <br />