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<br />-a- <br />The applicant requested that the revegetation success standard for shrub <br />density be lowered from the pre-mining densit~l oP 35,000 shrubs per acre <br />to 1,500-2,000 shrubs per acre with an increase in herbaceous cover from <br />24$ to 950. This is acceptable to the Division for the following reasons: <br />I) 1,500-2,000 shrubs per acre would create an open area with more value <br />For grazing and wildlife use; 2) De cause of the small area of disturbance <br />(3.22 acres), natural reinvasion of .shrubs will occur readily; and 3) The <br />increased herbaceous cover will make up for the decrease in shrub cover, <br />thus stabilizing the soil and preventing erosion. <br />Due to an oversight by the operator, no standard was proposed for herbaceous <br />production. Since the land is to be reclaimed for grazing, production is <br />very important in determining the utility of the revegetated area. There- <br />fore, in order to find the proposed operation in compliance, the following <br />stipulation is necessary: <br />TlIE REVEGETATION SUCCESS STANDARD FOR !lERBACEOUS PRODUCTION SNALL BE <br />125 GRAMS PER SQUARE METER, UNLESS TlIE APPLICANT CAN DEMONSTRATE TO <br />THE DIVISION THAT AN ALTERNATE STANDARD IS APPROPRIATE. WITHIN 60 <br />DAYS OF PERMIT ISSUANCE, TF1E APPL.ZCANT MUST APPEND THE APPLICATION TO <br />REFLECT ACCEPTANCE OF Tf1E STANDARD SET DY TIIE DIVISION OR AN ALTERNATE <br />STANDARD APPROVED BY T!!E DIVISION. <br />The above standard was determined by increasing the measured pre-mining <br />production proportionally to the increase in herbaceous cover. <br />The diversity standard proposed by the applicant is to have 8 species make <br />up at least 70~ of the diversity using the Shannon-Weiner index. Since <br />this is identical to the baseline information, the Division agrees with the <br />use of this standard. <br />The revegetation plan calls for seeding with 10 native shrub, grass, and <br />forb species and mulching. Additional native species should readily invade <br />the area to be reclaimed due to the small size (3.22 acres). tJith seeding <br />and natural invasion, the operator should be able to meet the revegetation <br />success standards. <br />The baseline vegetation inventory showed that no endangered species were <br />present in the vicinity of the mining area. Furthermore, the acreage of <br />disturbance will not increase. Therefore, pursuant to 2.07.6(2)(n), the <br />Division finds that the proposed coal mining activities will not affect the <br />continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in de- <br />struction or adverse modification of their critical habitats. <br />With the one stipulation, the proposed operation is in compliance with the <br />requirements of this section. <br />XIII. Rules 2.09.11, 2.05.6(2) and 4.18 - Fish and Wildlife <br />The applicant was advised to contact the local conservation officer of the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) to determine any potential impacts from <br />