GENERAL41258

• Permit No: C1981034
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 6/14/1993
• Doc Name: PROPOSED DECISION & FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE FOR RN2
• Permit Index Doc Type: FINDINGS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

applicable static safety factor, stability of the fill, and
protection of the surface and ground water (4.10.3(5)).
G. The Red Canyon underground development waste pile has been reclaimed.
The waste is covered with four feet of non-toxic cover. The final
certification for the pile was completed November 3, 1988.
IX. Backfillina and Grading
A. The backfilling and grading plan for the Aed Canyon Mine can be
located in the Reclamation Plan, which begins on page 126 of the
permit application. Map 2.05.4(2)(c)-1 shows the final contours of
the site.
The majority of backfilling and grading operations has taken place at
the Red Canyon Mine. The site has received a Phase I bond release
for backfilling and grading activities.
The applicant has submitted a plan for reclamation of excessive rills
and gullies. This plan is required by Rule 4.14.6(1) and is found in
Section 2.05 .4 (2)(c) of the permit application. The operator commits
to the preparation of a written rill and gully survey each June, and
the repair of gullies greater than nine inches (9") by August 31 of
each year.
X. Revegetation
A. The majority of the regraded surface was drill seeded and straw
mulched. The proposed seed mix is composed primarily o£ native
species and should provide for the establishment of a diverse,
effective vegetative cover.
B. The Division proposes to approve the use of small burnet, an
introduced species, in the reclamation seed mix. It ie a
drought-tolerant forb which is highly palatable to livestock, deer,
and elk. The applicant has submitted information which shows that
the introduced species is desirable and necessary to achieve the
approved post-mining land use, and is not poisonous or noxious
(4.15.2).
C. The Division proposes to approve the use of straw mulch as a means to
meet soil stabilization requirements (4.15.4).
D. The area of surface disturbance at Red Canyon was previously mined
land and, as such, the revegetation success criteria of Rule 4.05.10
applies. Vegetative ground cover is the only success criterion which
can be applied on previously mined lands. In general, the Division
has assumed that the vegetative cover on pre-disturbance native
rangeland is "adequate to control erosion" if signs o£ excessive
erosion are not present. In this instance, the vegetation success
standard is based on total vegetative cover in the sagebrush
community adjacent to the affected areas at Red Canyon. Methods to
measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and woody
plant density are discussed in Section 2.05 .4(2)(vi) of the permit
application (starting on page 133 of Volume 11, and in Appendix F).
The operator plans to use the line intercept method. This method was
used for sampling and was conducted in order to set the revegetation
success standard. Measurements were made to the nearest centimeter
along 10-meter randomly located and oriented transects. Based on
data collected in the summer of 1983, a vegetative success standard
of 26 percent has been established. The Division proposes to approve
the use of this sampling technique to demonstrate revegetation
success (4.15.7(1)).
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