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On page 2.05.4-5R the applicant makes reference to having done sampling <br />programs for some of these areas to determine the best available plant growth- <br />medium. No reference is made to the location of the sampling results in the <br />application, and they could not be located in the application. Therefore, the <br />Division deems it necessary to impose the following stipulation, <br />STIPULATION N0. 2 <br />THE DIVISION DIRECTS EMPIRE ENERGY CORPORATION, WITHIN 90 DAYS OF PERMIT <br />ISSUANCE, TO SUBMIT TO THE DIVISION THE RESULTS OF THE SAMPLING PROGRAM FOR <br />ALL OVERBURDEN PROPOSED TO BE USED FOR PLANT GROWTH MEDIA. <br />BASED UPON THE RESULTS OF THESE STUDIES, AND THE UTILIZATION OF ANY PROPOSED <br />SOIL AMENDMENTS, THE APPLICANT SHALL DEMONSTRATE TO THE DIVISION'S <br />SATISFACTION THAT THE PROPOSED OVERBURDEN IS AN ACCEPTABLE PLANT GROWTH MEDIA. <br />With the acceptance of the above stipulation, the Division finds the topsoil <br />sections of Empire Energy Corporation's proposed mining and reclamation plan <br />to be in comp]iance for the Eagle No, 5, 5A and No. 6 Mines. <br />XI. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e) and 4.15 <br />Pre-mine vegetation information is provided in Section 2.04.10. Additional <br />information is provided in Exhibit 14, Supplemental Vegetation Information. <br />Vegetation communities are shown on Map 20-Vegetation Map. Section 2.05 <br />(pages 2.05.4-5R through 2.05.4-23Ra) describe the revegetation methodology, <br />while pages 2.05.4-24R through 2.05.4-33Ra discuss the revegetation standards <br />for each type of disturbed area. The Williams Fork Strip Pit revegetation <br />plans and revegetation success criteria are given in Exhibit 24, Williams Fork <br />Strip Pit Reclamation PT an. The Reclamation Plan Map (Map 29) indicates the <br />planned post-mine uses (vegetation types) and the reference areas for the <br />reclaimed areas. <br />A vegetation inventory was conducted at the Eagle Mine Complex in July 1981. <br />The operator sampled three undisturbed big sagebrush stands adjacent to the <br />surface disturbance. The vegetation sample areas were similar in aspect, <br />elevation and soils to the disturbed areas. The information collected in that <br />study is located in Section 2.04.10 (pages 2.04.10-2 through 2.04.10-24). No <br />threatened and/or endangered plant species were identified within the <br />disturbed area during the vegetation inventory. <br />Roughly one-third of the permit area is covered by croplands. Empire Energy <br />Corporation has divided the croplands into two categories: 1) irrigated <br />hayfields in the Williams Fork River bottom areas, and 2) dryland wheat, found <br />on cleared hillsides which were once sage-dominated. Productivity data is <br />provided for the irrigated hayfields on Table 69 (page 2.05.4-27). Wheat <br />production is given in Table 70, page 2.05,4-30, <br />Empire Energy Corporation is proposing to reclaim the surface disturbed areas <br />to rangeland/wildlife habitat, hayfields and dryland wheatfields. An adeouate <br />plan for revegetation has been presented. Several revegetation success <br />standards have been proposed by the applicant for the different disturbed <br />areas. <br />-50- <br />