1997-03-05_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981018

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facility and the rail loadout, but this is not specified in the narrative, or in Tables V-6 ( "Reclamation Areas" ) or V-7 ("Revegetation Schedule Through Third Mine Permit Term 1981 Through 1999") . Table V-6 lists only areas associated with the county road as having been permanently reclaimed, which would seem to contradict the referenced narrative. Table V-7 does not distinguish between permanent and interim reclamation, and the schedule is now outdated. These contradictions need to be resolved, and Table V-7 needs to be updated as appropriate. It would be helpful if a distinction were made between interim and permanent seeding in Table V-7 . 9. Three different seedmixes are presented in Section V. 1 , and various environmental sites and situations to which the various seedmixes are adapted are described. However, there appears to be no specific narrative or tabular identification addressing which specific reclaimed areas would be reclaimed - with which seedmix. On page V-33 , it is indicated that disturbed areas revegetated during final reclamation tasks are indicated on Maps 29, 30, and 31, but this statement appears to be in error. The referenced maps depict the Scullion Gulch channel diversion plan and profile. These discrepancies need to be addressed, and specific reclaimed sites to be seeded with each seedmix need to be identified by narrative, maps or tables. 10 . Paragraph (e) , on page V-32 , references the fact that various pre-mine plant communities on portions of the mine site are dominated by weedy annual grasses and forbs, and indicates that either chemical or mechanical summer fallow techniques would be employed to control these weedy species prior to fall seeding. The referenced problem is very apparent in the revegetation conducted to date in the refuse disposal area. Pre-mine plant _ communities in the refuse disposal area are dominated in many areas by cheatgrass and annual forbs. There has been some establishment of seeded grasses in more favorable sites of the reclaimed RP-1 , but there is virtually no representation of perennial forbs or shrubs on the reclaimed area. It is not known whether the mechanical or chemical fallow techniques described were employed in reclamation of refuse area RP-1 , but if so they appear to have been ineffective. RP-1 was seeded in the fall of 1990, but vegetation over the major portion of the pile was still heavily dominated by cheatgrass and tumble mustard during the 1996 growing season. As those species were prevalent on the site prior to disturbance, it is probable that they established initially from seed reserves in the topsoil which was salvaged and respread on the reclaimed surface. Cheatgrass in particular is known to be a highly competitive species and generally persists as the dominant species once established due to its early growth habit and