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I page 7 Stabilization of the disturbed sites includes discouraging the establishment of week species and encouraging the estab- lishment of perennial plant species. Fapid establishment of perennial plant species on disturbed sites will normally remedy potential problens of site stabilization including ccrr~etition by weedy species. Seeding perennial grass species helps to rapidly stablize erosive soils because the deep fibrous roots of these grasses aid in holding the soil firmly in place. In order to further evaluate the proposed species mixture in light of the above discussirn, information in the growth characteristics, palatability, and general reclamation potential (adaptability ratings) of the species proposed for use in re- claiming the mine site have been listed in Table 1. ~ 2. The suggested varieties of species included in the proposed species mixture and their current availability is shown in Table 1. 3. Late fall (October), until snow becomes too deep for effective operation of equitirr~~t, is the recanmended time for seeding reclaimed areas. Still, it is not always feasible to seed in the fall (e. g., due to early snowfall), so sec-ding in the early spring should be an option for the mine operator. Spring planting can be successful if done irrrr~~]iately after snow melt. The spring season is not advised for planting seeds of many herba- ceous and shrub species unless they have been treated to break dormancy. 4. Hydramilching will be done on all slopes greater than 30 percent. "t•7eed-free" straw will be used if commrcially available. 5. Vegetative cover, production, and density data collected in the reference areas will be used to evaluate revegetation success on reclaimed areas at a later date. Further explanation appears in the response to 2.04.20(1) 4.15, Vegetation Information. 6. A relatively small percent of the total number of species in a vegetative canrnuiity are usually abundant (represented by large numbers of individuals, a large biomass, productivity, or other indication of "importance") and a large percent are rare (less carrron) . tam le the few conrron species, or dcmi.nants, largely acmunt for the energy flow in a vegetative cor~immity, it is the large number of rare species fh,;t largely determine the species diversity in a whole commtnity (Odom 1971). Communities which contain many different species tend to be more stable, with fewer population fluctuations, and, therefore, are more likely to survive than ccxTCrninities in which there are only a few species.