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prior to mining operations. There are existing stockpiles of this soil. Use of this topsoil in <br />vegetation efforts for the past several years has shown it to be a very suitable growth <br />medium. In effect, it supports the desired level of vegetative cover. <br />As the final procedure, topsoil layers will be seeded with a drought tolerant seed <br />mixture. Lack of precipitation in the area is a problem but experimentation (including <br />BLM participation and approval) has shown that a particular seed mixture will produce a <br />good level of vegetative cover when seeded at 50#/age. The seed mixture consists of the <br />following species. <br />Critana Thickspike Wheatgrass <br />Nezpar Indian Rice Grass <br />Sodar Streambank Wheatgrass <br />Russian Wild Rye (Salina) <br />In addition to the mixture above, indigenous 4-Wing Saltbush has also been seen <br />to naturally propagate in reclaimed areas. <br />Similar to current procedure, hydro-seeding will be utilized where access is <br />available. Hand broadcasting will occur elsewhere. As a general rule, seeding will occur <br />in the late fall months to take advantage of winter snow cover. One possible exception to <br />this rule might occur when seeding takes place on the reclaimed access haul road <br />(discussed below). <br />Also similar to current procedure in all aeeas, reclamation success monitoring will <br />occur as follow up. Monitoring will include visual assessment, estimates of vegetative <br />cover, erosion monitoring and noxious weed monitoring. <br />Previous Lower Mining Area ("B"1 <br />This sub-area is located immediately above Area "A". The current status is <br />represented by escarpments and flat areas that will be backfilled with clastics and re- <br />sloped to blend in with surrounding landscape. This is the most difficult area to access. A <br />small existing section of road will be re-constructed to access the backfill and sloping <br />areas. This road will be pulled back and sloped as reclamation is completed in a mode of <br />retreat. Sloping and topsoil procedures, erosion control, vegetation and monitoring will <br />be similaz to procedures described in Area "A" above. <br />Flat Storage Area ("C") <br />This sub-area is actually the entrance to Area "B". It is currently used for storage <br />of equipment and materials that will be moved to the active mine. There is relatively little <br />disturbance here and the ground is mostly flat. Reclamation will consist of "tilling" <br />existing topsoil with the bucket of a track excavator and hand broadcasting the seed <br />3 <br />