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<br />S <br />• 4.5 LAND h1ANAGEhtENT' PL~ <br />The proposed postmining land use of rangeland is consistent with the pre- <br />initial stocking rates (A.U.M.s) for the following year will be calculated. <br />Guidelines suggested in the SCS Range Management Handbook (1976) will be <br />mining land uses of the area. Gulf Oil is the owner of record for all lands to <br />be disturbed except for some BLM lands. The BLM has already commented that a <br />post mining land use of rangeland, at the Edna Mine, is consistent with their <br />land use plan. <br />Development and implementation of a detailed grazing management plan will <br />pr,z-, <br />occur at least two years before P$M seeks final bond release. Preliminary ~ `~ ~ <br />surveys and evaluations of revegetated areas (cover, productivity, etc.) will be w,: ~ <br />conducted during the second growing season and at least biennially thereafter. <br />Once the revegetation is established well enough to withstand grazing pressures, <br />used in helping to formulate the initial grazing program. Initial stocking <br />rates will be calculated using the accepted assumption that a mature cow plus <br />calf (up to 6 months) equals one A.U.M., and that about 900 pounds of forage <br />per acre will support one A.U.M. of grazing. For sheep, a mature ram or ewe <br />equals 0.20 A.U.M. For wildlife, mule deer are rated at 0.20 A.U.M. and elk <br />0.55. Flexibility in the plan will allow for optimum forage use depending on <br />the annual forage prod~.:ction. <br />Livestock use i;ill be closely monitored until the degree to which the <br />forage is utilized can ce evaluated. Grazing i;ill be stopped when it is <br />estimated that 500 of the current annual forage production has been consumed. <br />If observations show the areas are capable of supporting more grazing, the <br />necessary adjustments in stocking rates will be made. <br />Data from one season of grazing will be used to make adjustments in the <br />stocking rates of the following year. l~'hen grazing is allowed on the reclaimed <br />areas, P$hf will stipulate to the livestock owners the stocking rates, sequence <br />and season of grazing. <br />4.5-1 <br />