Laserfiche WebLink
The initial five-year permit for the Munger Canyon Mine contained a <br />stipulation (No. 9) requiring the permittee to resample the Munger <br />Canyon big sagebursh community for production during the 1983 growing <br />season. A satisfactory response to the stipulation was received; <br />therefore, the requirements of Stipulation No. 9 attached to the <br />initial five-year permit are considered resolved. <br />Stipulation No. 10 attached to the initial five-year permit required <br />the permittee to submit information to the Division demonstrating that <br />pre-mine vegetation sampling data was representative of what may be <br />expected from present vegetative communities. The operator <br />subsequently submitted an adequate response, thereby satisfying the <br />requirements of the stipulation. <br />Stipulation No. 11 attached to the initial five-year permit required <br />the permittee to supply the Division with woody plant density data for <br />all sampled communities. This information was required in order to <br />determine whether the affected and reference areas of similar plant <br />community, at the McClane Canyon and Munger Canyon mine sites could be <br />combined to yield an adequate sample which could then be used as a <br />standard for the woody plant density component of revegetation <br />success. Several tests were performed to determine the comparability <br />of affected and reference areas, and Munger and McClane communities. <br />It was determined that the means of Big Sagebrush affected and <br />reference areas were equivalent at 95X confidence (alpha=2). All other <br />communities (Greasewood, Shadscale, and Juniper) did not show <br />equivalency between affected and reference areas. Data from the Big <br />Sagebrush affected and reference areas was combined to yield <br />satisfactory baseline data for woody plant density for the Big <br />Sagebrush community. Stipulation No. 11 to the September 7, 1982 <br />Findings Document is considered resolved. <br />Reveaetation Plan (2.05.4(2) (e)) and Reveaetation Success (4.15) <br />The Division has reviewed the Munger Canyon Mine revegetation plan and <br />revegetation criteria (Sections 3.4 and 4.5.12 of Volume I and Section <br />3.3 of Volume VI of the application). In the original permit <br />application, the applicant proposed a variance from baseline woody <br />plant densities for the Greasewood shrubland, Big Sagebrush, Shadscale <br />shrubland and Pinyon-Juniper communities, but did not provide <br />justification for the proposed stocking level. As a result, the <br />Division attached a stipulation to the original permit requiring <br />justification for the proposed woody plant density revegetation <br />levels. The applicant submitted responses to the stipulation on <br />August 4, 1982 and April 8, 1983. The responses provided additional <br />information on shrub densities necessary for adequate wildlife habitat <br />but did not conclusively justify the stocking levels proposed by the <br />applicant. <br />Therefore, based on a review of this information and consultation with <br />the Colorado Division of Wildlife, Stipulation No. 9 was required. <br />Submittal of TR-04 in Junuary 1986 committed the operator to the <br />following woody plant density success standards for the Munger Canyon <br />Mine: 500 stems/acre for the greasewood shrubland, big sagebrush and <br />-39- <br />