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-• Oid Discussion Determining Revegetation Success <br />Pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(2)(vii), SMC has requested the Division to set standards based <br />on local environmental conditions and available data for similar sites. The Division <br />states that they have made recommendations (incorporated herein) based on pre-mining <br />data from similar communities provided by Energy Fuels Corporation and Pittsburgh <br />and Midway for their mines located nearby. SMC has provided no quantitative data. <br />Trout Creek appears to have followed many channels through the valley as a result of <br />flooding, deposition of trash, and beaver activity, thereby creating a swampy and wet <br />environment. Plants in the area adjacent to the Apex Mine -cottonwoods, willows and <br />various sedges are all indicative of high moisture levels in the valley bottom. The <br />narrow valley bottom meets the steep hillslopes at both sides. At Apex, the adjacent <br />south-facing slope is covered with a mixed mountain shrub community, dominated by <br />Gambels oak. Approximately 3 acres of total mine disturbance is along the valley <br />bottom and the remaining acres are on the hillside. <br />Oid Discussion Revegetation Success Criteria <br />Two community standards have been developed for the Apex #2 Mine: one for the <br />valley bottom (yard area) and the other for the mixed mountain shrub community on <br />• the hillside (bench area). Pre-mine data from adjacent mines were averaged to set <br />standards for herbaceous cover and productivity as identified below: <br />Valley Bottom IHi /side <br />Herbaceous Cover 70% 41% <br />Herbaceous Productivity 3500 Ibs/acre 500 lbs/acre <br />Species Diversity: <br />Using relative cover or production values for each species, the reclaimed areas will <br />have at least 4 perennial species with relative importance equal to or greater than 30%, <br />but with all species combined not to exceed 75% in relative importance. Any one of <br />the 4 species cannot exceed 40% in relative importance. <br />Shrub Density: <br />The landowner has requested that no shrubs be planted on the reclaimed area. Since he <br />has requested this and the post-mining land use of grazing/wildlife habitat will be <br />enhanced by an open area, no further woody plant density information is needed. The <br />adjacent area is characterized by dense shrub communities which will provide <br />sufficient cover and edge effect for wildlife. The reclaimed area will provide <br />. herbaceous forage with preferred browse species. <br />Revised 6.'/0/98 ]84-10 <br />DEC 2 1 1998 <br />TR-~~ <br />