GENERAL45720 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Production data for the alkali sagebrush community within the affected area and reference area was submitted to satisfy the requirements of Stipulation 17. The alkalai sagebrush community was not disturbed by the mining operation so success standards for the alkalai sagebrush community no longer apply. Previous data available in the permit document defined production and cover for the Big sagebrush community. Cover and production revegetation success criteria standards will be based on comparison to reference areas. Baseline vegetation information for the Canadian Strip Mine is presented in Section 2.04.10 of Volume I and Appendix F of Volume II of [he permit document. Information pertaining to the revegetation plan is presented in Section 2.05.4 of Volume I and Exhibit 1 of Volume III. The final approved seed mix is presented as Exhibit 3 in the permit application. XII. Post-mining Land Use The primary land uses prior to mining operations at the Canadian Strip Mine site were wildlife habitat and rangeland for cattle grazing. The reclamation plan proposed by Slurco, Inc. is to return the land to equal or better utility for these same uses. Post-mining land use will be wildlife habitat and rangeland. Slurco developed a grazing plan and ran cattle on both the reclaimed area and reference area in 1996. Grazing according to the approved plan will occur in 1997 as well. Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(1), the Division finds that the proposed post-mining land use of the permit area meets the requirements of Rule 4.16. Ponds Nos. 1 and 2 are being retained as permanent structures at the mine site, per Technical Revision No. 6, approved by the Division in August, 1991. Landowners requested retention of these ponds and filed for the associated water rights, in recognition that the ponds' retention would enhance the post-mining land use per Rules 4.16.1(2) and 4.16.2(1). The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. Information on land use can be found in Appendix A of Volume I of the permit application. XIII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife, and Related Environmental Values The permit and adjacent areas are included within areas of high quality wildlife habitat. The major uses of the area by wildlife include antelope fawning, mule deer winter range, mule deer migration route, and sage grouse mating, nesting and winter habitat. The full use of the area by wildlife will resume upon reclamation of the disturbed area within the permit term. Canadian Strip Mine, C-81-026 26 December 5, 1996