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<br />64. Consolidated rock areas, as those expected to be found in portions of the <br />east and the west pits, will require more than 8 to 12 inches of plant <br />growth medium replacement. Plant roots require greater depths of <br />moisture- and nutrient-holding material for successful vegetation <br />establishment and maintained growth, similar to the vegetative• stands <br />currently inhabiting the project area. Soil Conservation Service (SCS) <br />Soil survey descriptions often describe plant root depths which exceed <br />60 inches. Similarly, coarse rock fragments, expected to be encountered <br />in the east pit backfilled areas and the waste rock dumps, will require <br />more than-8 to 12 inches of plant growth medium replacement. The coarse <br />rock fragments generally provide no moisture- or nutrient-holding <br />capacity, essential plant growth media requirements for plant <br />establishment and continued growth. Cook, Hyde, and Sims, 1914, specify <br />that in Sagebrush Foothill Vegetation Types receiving between 12 and 15 <br />inches of annual precipitation, "it is advisable to save the top 10 to <br />12 inches of (toplsoil to be added back over the overburden material to <br />be re vegetated. Suitable subsoil beneath the added topsoil sF~ould, in <br />all cases, provide at least 18 inches or more of material for a plant <br />growth medium. This depth is desirable because root concentrations of <br />seeded grasses will extend to this depth and soil moisture capacity will <br />penetrate to this depth each spring following the precipitaticn received <br />as fall and winter snows." Therefore, we recommend that an additional 2 <br />to 3 feet of subsoil material be replaced on the waste rock facilities <br />prior to replacement of the topsoil. P~.ease commit to this. <br />Section E. 2.3 Grading and Stabilization <br />65. Roads should be graded upon reclamation so that they blend in with the <br />adjacent topography, and not act as drainages. Please address. <br />Section E. 2.4 Surface and Seedbed Preparation <br />66. Please specify the application rate of hay if it is chosen as a mulching <br />material. <br />Section E. 2.5 Seeding M1lixtures and Rates <br />67. As approximately 25% of the project area is classified a Pinon-Juniper <br />woodland, please commit to replacing these two tree species in the areas <br />where they currently occur. <br />Section E.3 Reclamation Implementation <br />Section E. 3.1.1 East Pit <br />68. Please provide north to south and east to west cross sections of the <br />reclaimed east pit. <br />-11- <br />