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primary goals are normally better met through the selection of a variety of less aggressive <br />grasses, forbs and woody plant species. When a specific vegetation community is to be <br />established, its proposed floristic composition goals will drive the species selection process. <br />Establishment of certain species may also require special planting techniques or methods, with <br />the inter-seeding of woody species being most commonly used. <br />When permanent revegetation focuses primarily on reestablishing wildlife habitat as the <br />postmining land use, maximizing the species diversity contributions of native grasses, forbs <br />and woody plant species in the revegetation community will drive seed mix formulation and <br />planting rates. An effective way that this can be accomplished is to vary the composition of the <br />applicable Permanent Revegetation seed mixture. Providing vegetation cover and forage for <br />wildlife species within permanent reclamation aeeas can be accomplished through the <br />establishment of species specifically selected for this purpose. In addition to stabilization <br />chazacteristics, the revegetation species list and the permanent seed mixtures proposed in this <br />document include plant species capable of providing cover and food for wildlife species. For <br />these reasons, operational latitude has been provided in The Plan to add or delete plant species <br />from seed mixtures to fit site-specific stabilization and wildlife needs and objectives. As <br />previously stated, changes in seed mixtures will be submitted to the BLM for review and <br />approval prior to their use. <br />The Yankee Gulch Project Wildlife Mitigation Plan specifies that up to 20 percent of the area <br />requiring reclamation be specifically dedicated to providing desirable woody browse species <br />appropriate for mule deer wintering range and other associated wildlife habitat. Reclamation <br />species of choice within these areas would be Wyoming big sagebrush and antelope <br />bitterbrvsh, with the two species represented about equally. Within these aeeas, the ultimate <br />goal would be to try to reach 15 to 20 percent shrub canopy cover at maturity. Consistent with <br />these goals, composition and density of shrubs to be established in the mining panels and the <br />means used to evaluate progress towazd established goals will be determined cooperatively <br />with the BLM and the CROW in the development of periodic panel-specific work plans. <br />Some form of the Dry Exposure Permanent Revegetation Seed Mixture will be used on <br />reconstructed soils of the Thirteenmile Tongue formation. In order to maintain the integrity of <br />the Thirteenmile Tongue plant communities, American Soda will attempt to use plant varieties <br />that are native to the Thirteenmile Tongue to the extent that these soils can be adequately <br />reclaimed by doing so. Likewise, young ponderosa pine trees removed by disturbance would <br />be replaced in the final rehabilitation only by saplings grown from parent stock occurring on <br />the Piceance Site. <br />The species contained in these permanent revegetation seed mixtures may be substituted or their <br />compositional percentages vaned based on commercial availability and site performance. The <br />purity and germination factors presented in the seed mixture tables are for demonstration <br />purposes. The actual purity and germination values for specific seed lots will be used in <br />formulating seed mixtures each yeaz. Modifications to seed mixtures will be submitted to the <br />BLM for review and approval prior to use. <br />Seed labeling, quality and testing will be in accordance with the Colorado Seed Law. Certified <br />weed-free seed will be procured whenever possible. Non-certified seed will be tested for <br />noxious weed seed content, and seed used in plantings will be free of primary noxious weeds. <br />At American Soda's discretion, seed mixture samples may be sent to the Colorado Seed <br />Laboratory at Colorado State University or other qualified facility for composition, purity and <br />germination testing. Results of this QA/QC testing will be made available to the regulatory <br />authority or other interested parties upon request. <br />Aroerirm Soda L.L.P. S-7 <br />Soil Conservalio0. Erosion and Sediment <br />Contml, reclamation end Revegeution Plan <br />October 28. 1998 <br />Reviud Apri19, 1999 <br />