Laserfiche WebLink
_lp_ <br />f. Appendix 13-5 is the Division approved plan regarding control <br />of Canada thistle on the Seneca II mine site. No commitment <br />is included stating that the Division will be notified <br />regarding herbicide spraying. Because Seneca II is not <br />located in a particularly sensitive agricultural area, we <br />don't believe that it is necessary for Peabody to notify the <br />Division within 10 days of spraying activities as we <br />typically require. However, the following information should <br />be submitted each year as a part of the Annual Reclamation <br />Report: dates that herbicides were applied, what types and <br />mixtures of herbicides were used, and what areas were sprayed <br />with each herbicide. <br />g. Ultimately, proper weed control is Peabody's burden. <br />However, typically we require a commitment from the operator <br />to conduct fall inspections of large infestations that have <br />been sprayed previously in the season. The inspectior. should <br />focus on whether the treated area will need to be reseeded. <br />Effective weed control involves both the elimination of weeds <br />and their replacement with better vegetation. Peabody's <br />underlying assumption in Appendix 13-5 that grasses are <br />growing under dense Canada thistle patches needs to be <br />confirmed yearly. A commitment addressing this issue should <br />be included in Appendix 13-5. <br />h. Page 13-4-5 of Appendix 13-4 (Alfalfa Management and Control <br />Plan) contains the following commitment <br />"Revegetation monitoring activities consistent with the <br />approved revegetation monitoring program will be carried out <br />in this pasture (fenced old alfalfa control pasture) <br />annually, beginning the first year after the initiation of <br />grazing, to [monitor] grazing effects for stand <br />manipulations. The monitoring report will be submitted by <br />February 1 of the following year." <br />Management of the pasture should have taken place for at <br />least two growing seasons already. A search of our files has <br />not produced monitoring reports addressing the alfalfa <br />control pasture. This report should be included as a section <br />of the Annual Reclamation Report. This year's discussion <br />should, at a minimum, include all data collected and <br />observations made over the past two years as well as a <br />summary of the pasture's animal stocking history. <br />