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The second stipulation pertained to the annual submittal for Division approval <br />of the seed mixtures to be used for reclamation. Peabody Coal Company has <br />proposed several site-adapted perennial seed mixtures (pages 13-12 to 13-18 of <br />Volume VII, Tab 13) which are supplemented with available forb and shrub <br />seeds. In order for the Division to adequately evaluate the seed mixtures, it <br />was requested that the Seneca II Mine seed mixture be sent to the Division <br />annually for approval prior to the purchase of each year's seeds. This <br />approach would allow the Division to review forb and shrub seeds to be planted <br />and also changes in planting that may result from the trials at Seneca II <br />t4ine. In addition, several introduced species have been proposed in the seed <br />mixes. The proposed introduced species are compatible with the plant and <br />animal species of the region and may be necessary for the approved post-mining <br />land use. They will be allowed only when native varieties are unavailable. <br />The introduced species will be approved on a case-by-case basis when the <br />yearly seed mix is submitted. <br />Since Peabody Coal Company plans to continue this practice of adding forb and <br />shrub species to the permanent seed mixture based on availability, the <br />Division deems it appropriate to retain the following stipulation. <br />STIPULATION N0. 3 <br />A LIST OF PROPOSED SEED MIXTURES MUST BE SUBMITTED ANNUALLY TO THE DIVISION <br />FOR REVIEW AND APPROVAL. THE LIST SHOULD INCLUDE PURE LIVE SEED (PLS) PER <br />SQUARE FOOT, POUNDS PLS PER ACRE, SPECIES ORIGIN, AND ACRE ESTIMATES TO BE <br />SEEDED FOR EACH MIX. <br />During the permit renewal review process, three major concerns were identified <br />by the Division and addressed by Peabody Coal Company: <br />1. As part of the permit renewal application, Peabody Coal Company submitted <br />a vegetation study entitled "Revegetation Monitoring Report - 1985, <br />Seneca II Mine" (Appendix 13-2). A problem noted in this study was the <br />presence of Canadian thistle (Cirsium arvense), a noxious plant in <br />Colorado. To mitigate this concern, Pea~o~y-Coal Company will contact <br />the Routt County Weed Control District during the winter of 1986/87 for <br />assistance in developing and coordinating a control program. This plan <br />will be submitted to the Division for approval prior to its <br />implementation in the spring of 1987. <br />2. A second problem noted in the above referenced revegetation study was the <br />over abundance of alfalfa (Medicago sativa). To mitigate this problem, <br />Peabody Coal Company discusse e mo~ii'ications made to the permanent <br />seed mixtures and discussed a proposed management plan. The <br />modifications that have been made over the years to the seed mixtures <br />were geared toward reducing the competitive edge enjoyed by alfalfa. The <br />seeding rate has been reduced from 2.0 pure live seeds (PLS) pounds per <br />acre (lbs/ac) in 1983 to 0.25 PLS lbs/ac in 1986. Also, the variety of <br />alfalfa has been changed from the hay production type (M. sativa) to a <br />rangeland or pasture - type (M. falcata). This rangeland or pasture - <br />type alfalfa grows nearer to the gr- ounce (thereby reducing the shading <br />effect to shade intolerant species) and has a shorter growing season than <br />other alfalfa types. Further refinement of the seed mixture will be done <br />by Peabody Coal Company in the future, as necessary. <br />-33- <br />