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Mined Land Reclamation Division January 26, 1982 Page Two They are compatible with the area plant and animal communi- ties, and 4. They are not poisonous or noxious. Consequently, I don't quite understand why utilizati~~n of these grasses in the temporary seed mix for use on stockpiles and along road- ways could present a problem. Mike Savage indicated that they would act as a seed source which would hinder successful revegetation later, but this seems inconsistent. Furthermore, three of the five species sug- gested by the Division (sideoats grama, slender wheatgrass, and stream- bank wheatgrass) are also not native to the site according to the vegeta- tion inventory conducted i.n 1978 and contained in Appendix L-1 of the Application. Therefore, foors is asking for reconsideration of the temporary seed mix as proposed in our letter dated January 4, 19II2. Sandsage Density A number of reference sources have been cited in efforts to estab- lish an ideal Sandsage density at file mine site for the approved post- mining land use of rangeland grazing. non Hyde r, our vegetation consultant, has stated on page 81 of the Application text that "A Sandsage density of 200 to 600 per acre appears near ideal, and we must refrain from setting a success standard that would reproduce poor range conditions." He concludes by statistically calculating a success standard of 302 Sandsage per acre. Don Hyder has also concluded from recommendations contained in the Division of Wildlife letter dated June 19, 1981, that Sandsage density for the Keenesburg Mine site be placed somewhere between 50 and 400 per acre. This dete rnrination is based on the correlation he makes between the Coors site and the three typical sites dryscribed in the Department of iildlife letter. In his opinion, he considers "the Valent Sand at Coors mine as reasonably comparable to their (D.O.Id.) Number 2, and the Osgood at Coors mine as being, perhaps, just a little closer to .lumber 1 than to Number 2," "t'!e just can't compare their most~nesic site (lum- ber 3) with anything at Coors mine." ~)eff Durwell, District Conservationist at ttre Brighton office of the Soil Conservation Service has recommended in a letter dated Decem- ber 30, 1981, a Sandsage density of 7.00 plants per acre. I don't believe this letter had heen received by P1LRD when Mike Savage prepared his December 30 ineino.