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22. The nature and specific postmining use of the 16.03 acres of land designated as <br />Commercial Facilities ("F") on amended Map 2.05.4-5 is apparently not addressed in the <br />narrative. It may be that the facilities are integral to the primary pastureland and cropland <br />postmining land uses, and thus could be approved in conjunction with those uses, as <br />described in the introductory paragraph of Rule 1.04(71), but this will need to be clarified. <br />Second, please note that the ponds proposed to be retained for the post mining land use <br />will need to be shown to comply with requirements of Rule 4.05.9(13), prior to final bond <br />release. As with the permanent facilities noted previously, it may be that the ponds can be <br />shown to be integral to the primary postmine land uses, but this demonstration will need to <br />be included in the application. Finally, we have been unable to locate documentation of <br />compliance with Rule 2.05.5(1)(6), regarding written comments from surface landowners <br />and government agencies that would have to implement or authorize the proposed <br />postmining land uses following reclamation. <br />Please respond to the identified concerns regarding postmining land use <br />demonstrations and written comments, and amend the relevant permit sections as <br />warranted. <br />23. Annual fertilization and irrigation management practices for irrigated pastureland and <br />cropland are addressed in narrative within the final pazagraph on amended page <br />2.05.4(2)(e)-13. The narrative does not include specific documentation to show that the <br />practices and rates aze appropriate, as required by Rules 4.15.7(5)(d) and (e), which were <br />recently amended. Please provide additional detail regarding annual fertilization rates <br />and methods for irrigated pastureland and cropland, and include reference to specific <br />documents or written recommendations upon which the application rates are based, <br />pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(5)(d)(and e). Similarly, please include reference to specific <br />documents or written recommendations upon which annual irrigation rates are <br />based. <br />24. Because the reclamation plan is being amended to eliminate the practice of initial irrigation <br />for establishment of dryland pasture seedings, certain other aspects of the dryland pasture <br />revegetation plan will need to be amended. Irrigation typically results in relatively rapid <br />and dependable establishment of seeded vegetation, regazdless of the timing and amount of <br />growing season precipitation. As a result, timing of seeding is less critical than with <br />dryland plantings, and importance of surface mulch or other soil stabilizing practices is <br />reduced. With elimination of irrigation to ensure quick and reliable establishment, seeding <br />at the appropriate time to ensure maximum potential for establishment, and use of <br />appropriate mulch or cover crop practices (e.g. crimped, certified noxious weed free hay or <br />straw, or sterile cover crop such as Triticale seeded the yeaz prior to perennial seeding) <br />become more critical. Please amend the revegetation plan narrative for dryland <br />pasture reclamation to address the timing requirement of 4.15.3(1) and the <br />mulching/soil stabilizing requirements of 4.15.4. <br />25. The approved permit application allows for production success to be demonstrated based <br />on either oven dry adjusted bale weights from total field harvest, or oven dry clipped plot <br />10 <br />