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Renner <br />June 26, 1987 <br />Page 6 <br />d. The negative <br />100-150 acres <br />considerations <br />as presented to <br />Item 2. <br />impacts of herbicide application on <br />are outweighed by mine-wide land use <br />and the ability of the grazing program <br />provide adequate control. <br />Revised Map 1 to Appendix 13-4 is enclosed showing which <br />years of reclamation will be affected by the pasture area. <br />Item 3. <br />Grazing as a management tool to alter vegetative <br />composition is not an experimental practice (see <br />literature cited in the plan as presented). The plan <br />specifies a series of stocking rates for the pasture, <br />ranging from average or moderate to heavy. These numbers <br />are a guide and will be adjusted up or down according to <br />observations of the grazed pasture. The pasture is only <br />303 acres, less than one-half section. This is already a <br />small pasture, the terrain is not so severe as to restrict <br />animal use and movement, and salt and water placement will <br />aid in proper distribution. Splitting the pasture would <br />also be an additional cost because of fencing <br />requirements. It will also require more intensive <br />management, i.e., an operator will have to closely monitor <br />the pastures in order to move the animals when the <br />utilization levels are achieved. Please see discussions <br />in the literature on high intensity-short duration <br />grazing. <br />Also, the ability of animals to have access to a range of <br />vegetation is important from a bloat potential standpoint. <br />The existing pasture as described, with the water and salt <br />block, should provide effective overall utilization of the <br />pasture and still provide the requisite stress on alfalfa. <br />Annual monitoring will verify this conclusion and provide <br />CMLRD with the necessary feedback to require <br />modifications, if needed, in the future. <br />Item 4. <br />Page 13-4-5 has been revised to commit to annual <br />monitoring to be submitted by February 1 of the following <br />year. Monitoring data from the 1987 grazing season will <br />only include utilization information and thus, the first <br />annual monitoring report will be due on February 1, 1989, <br />