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All applicable standards, except species diversity, will be attained at not less than <br /> 90% of the standard with a 90% statistical confidence interval as required by Rules <br /> 4.15.8(3), (4), and (7). The region the permit area is located in is typified by cool <br /> season species. The seed mixes reflect the dominance of cool season species. No <br /> attempt will be made to establish warm season species nor would such establishment <br /> be appropriate in this locale. <br /> Periodic monitoring will occur on the reclaimed sites. Quantitative vegetation <br /> sampling will be performed in years 2, 4, and 7 following the year an area was <br /> seeded. Qualitative monitoring of the reclaimed areas will be performed periodically <br /> to assess rill and gully formation, potential noxious weed problems, evaluate seeding <br /> success. Seneca Coal Company will submit an Annual Reclamation Report to the <br /> Division by March 30th of each year. The Division approves of this proposal and <br /> finds it in compliance with Rule 2.04.13(1). A rill and gully report will be submitted <br /> to the Division by June 1st of each year. <br /> rX. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br /> Baseline fish and wildlife information is contained in Tab 11 of the permit <br /> application package. The fish and wildlife mitigation plan is located in Tab 23. <br /> Seneca Coal Company developed a wildlife monitoring and mitigation plan in <br /> conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and the United States <br /> Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Annual surveys will monitor large game <br /> populations and use of reclaimed areas, raptor nesting in the permit area, presence <br /> and use of the mine area by sage grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, and blue <br /> grouse, and presence of any endangered or threatened species in the permit area. <br /> Short and long term impacts to wildlife identified in the permit application package <br /> relate to habitat loss. One of the post mine land uses which the reclamation plan <br /> aims to reestablish is wildlife habitat. Habitat loss will be mitigated by including <br /> measures to reestablish wildlife habitat during contemporaneous reclamation of <br /> disturbed areas, and by avoidance of impacts during operations. Those measures <br /> include, <br /> * use of beneficial native plants in the reclamation seed mix, <br /> * establishment of shrub and/or tree islands to provide cover and <br /> roosting areas in the reclaimed areas, <br /> * establishment of rock and slash piles for cover and roosting areas in <br /> the reclaimed areas, <br /> * avoidance of disturbance in buffer zones in bottomlands, <br /> * avoiding disturbance of active raptor nests in the disturbed area and/or <br /> relocating those nests. <br /> Yoast Mine 35 October 19, 1999 <br />