PERMFILE100724

• Permit No: M1980047
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Section_Exhibit Name: EXHIBIT E RECLAMATION STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

goosefoot, native bluegrass, and Columbia needlegrass. Native
shrubs included rabbitbrush, big sagebrush and snowberry.
Compared to the 1977 drought, 1978 was a wet year at Parachute
Creek. Although there were no striking differences in frequency ~~-'~~~
/~
of species between 1977 and 1978, plant cover and vigor had in- ,.
creased substantially in 1978, ostensibly due to the increase in
precipitation. In addition to those species which performed well
under drought conditions in 1977, the grasses, alkali sacaton,
pubescent wheatgrass, Salina wildrye, hard fescue, and smooth
brome had grown well. These species have spread beyond their
original plantings since establishment of the plots. Big sage-
brush and Nuttal's saltbush were two shrubs besides fourwing
saltbush that showed vigorous growth in 1978.
Additional research work in revegetation of spent shales has been
performed independently or for other oil shale projects using
• TOSCO II, Union A & B, Paraho, and USBM spent shales. This in-
cludes the work of Harbert and Berg (1978), Cook et al (1979),
McKell et al (1978), and Frischnecht and Ferguson (1979). The
first two studies generally concluded that successful revegetaton
of processed shales is possible through proper management and
that unle~che= processed shales covered with one foot of topsoil
experienced no surface resalinization. The latter two studies
suggest that with the proper choice of salt tclerant and drought
resistant species, successful revegetation is possible with minimal
management activities.
The major problems encountered in establishing vegetation on
processed shale are the shale's Low fertility, poor infiltration
rate, and high soluble salt content. However, the above studies
have shown that these problems can be eliminated or reduced-by ?.
management techniques and proper choice of plant species.
•
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