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? ~` • • <br />cover and production for these vegetation types (should be <br />available from SCS). The reason this information would be helpful <br />is that standards have been established that are considerably lower <br />than those for the introduced pasture type but this is the only <br />vegetation type with cover and production data. Also, on page <br />2.04.10-1 near the end of the second paragraph it states" The <br />fourth most extensive community is the introduced pasture. It is <br />this community which has been MOST AFFECTED by prior mining <br />operations." If this is the case, we should be requiring the <br />operator to return the disturbed area to introduced pasture which <br />has considerably higher standards than what is currently approved. <br />As you can see this is a little confusing but may be cleared up by <br />determining more precisely what was present before mining began and <br />obtaining SCS range site data showing the typical cover and <br />production of those other disturbed vegetation types. To help <br />clarify this please request the following information: <br />1. Range Site descriptions of the mountain shrub, P-J and douglas <br />fir types showing typical cover and production figures. <br />2. A breakdown of the vegetation types pre-disturbance( I know this <br />will be difficult to obtain but the best guesstimate will help) <br />including acreages of each area with an accompanying map. <br />Based on the information we receive the success standards may have <br />to be re-evaluated. In other words if the pasture is the most <br />affected vegetation type it should dictate the bulk of the success <br />standards. <br />Reclamation Plan 2.05.4 <br />In the previous permit application the operator indicated that the <br />entire backfilled and regraded area would be covered with 4 inches <br />of topsoil. In the current document they indicate that 9 inches <br />will be placed over the entire area. I think this is great but <br />where did 5 inches of extra material come from and is it suitable. <br />I am guessing that some of the extra material is coming from <br />reclaiming 2 less acres (6.25 versus 8) and maybe some is coming <br />from the borrow area. We need to define where the resource is, how <br />much there is how good is it, etc., etc.. It appears to me that <br />maybe this hasn't been exactly defined in the past but we should <br />clear it up now. <br />Also, it mentions in the text that they will NOT need to revegetate <br />the area where the topsoil is stored. This is incorrect. They will <br />be required to reclaim this area and any other area they disturb <br />inside their permit area even if it benefits reclaiming the rest of <br />the mine. You may want to check into this but I suspect they will <br />be held to the same success standards as any other disturbed area <br />if it is inside their permit area. This may also increase their <br />actual disturbed acres. <br />The seed mix currently looks okay, but based on additional <br />information received, we may re-examine it. We might want to <br />