Laserfiche WebLink
reestablish apost-mining land use of rangeland and wildlife habitat. Disturbed areas will <br />be seeded with one of two seed mixes, and straw mulch will be applied at a rate of 4000 <br />pounds per acre. <br />A. The Division approved the use of introduced species in the reclamation seed mix. <br />The applicant has submitted information which shows that the introduced species <br />are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved post-mining land use and are <br />not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2(3)). Introduced species in the meadow seed mix <br />include Agropyron intermedium (Intermediate wheatgrass), Agropyron elongatum <br />(Tall wheatgrass), Agropyron spicatum x repens (hybrid wheatgrass), Bromus <br />inermis (Smooth brome), Dactylis glomerata (Orchardgrass), Poa pratensis <br />(Kentucky bluegrass), Medicago sativa (Alfalfa), Medicago officianlis (Yellow <br />sweetclover), and Astragalus cicer (Cicer milkvetch). Introduced species in the <br />upland seed mix include Agropyron elongatum (Tall wheatgrass), Agropyron <br />intermedium (Intermediate wheatgrass), Agropyron sibericum (Siberian <br />wheatgrass), Bromus inermis (Smooth brome), Poa pratensis (Kentucky <br />bluegrass), Medicago sativa (Alfalfa), and Sanguisorbia minor (Small butnet). <br />B. The Division approved the use of straw mulch as a means to meet soil <br />stabilization requirements (4.15.4). <br />C. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and <br />woody plant density are discussed in 2.05.4(2)(c)(vi) of the Bowie No. 2 Mine <br />permit application document. The Division approved these techniques (4.15.7(1)). <br />D. Comparisons between reclaimed and undisturbed areas, in order to demonstrate <br />that success criteria of 4.15.8 and 4.15.10 have been met, will be based on the <br />following: <br />Areas with pre-mining communities of Juniper Woodland and Mixed Shrubs will <br />be seeded with an upland seed mixture. The success of this revegetation effort <br />will be determined by comparing vegetative cover and herbaceous productivity to <br />reference areas in those two communities. Species diversity will be considered <br />adequate if at least four perennial species are present and each accounts for at <br />least 3% relative cover. At least one of those species will be a forb or shrub. <br />There is no success standard for woody stem density. <br />Areas where apre-mining disturbed meadow existed will be seeded with a <br />meadow seed mix. Revegetation of these areas will be considered successful if <br />vegetative cover exceeds 35.3% and herbaceous productivity exceeds 1602 <br />pounds per acre. These reflect the cover and productivity of the disturbed <br />meadows prior to mining disturbance. Species diversity will be adequate if at <br />least two perennial species are present, each accounting for at least 3% relative <br />cover. <br />30 <br />