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portion of the permit area that is currently in a poor productive state and a portion in the northwestern part of <br />the amendment area will be reclaimed as irrigated pasture. Thus, revegetation activities will return the <br />affected lands to a similar (if currently irrigated and managed) or higher and better use. Successful <br />revegetation of irrigated pasture will show that the reclaimed lands are capable of supporting the uses which <br />they were capable of supporting before mining. <br />Wildlife will continue to make incidental use of the area following reclamation activities. A portion of the <br />Swale/drainage type will reestablish naturally adjacent to sediment ponds, continuing to provide habitat to <br />wildlife. <br />Letters were sent to the legal and equitable owners within the permit area, detailing the revegetation plan and <br />proposed postmining land use. Inquiries during 1987 and 1999 baseline studies and discussions with local <br />residents pertaining to Peabody's and WFC's proposed postmining land use, indicated that the proposed <br />postmining land use and establishment of irrigated pasture was compatible with local wishes. <br />Postmining Vegetation Types <br />• The postmine vegetation types will consist of the irrigated pasture type, irrigated alfalfa hayland, dryland <br />pasture type, and any portions of the Swale/drainage type that remain undisturbed or have reestablished <br />naturally during the liability period. The following discussion on revegetation methods has been split into <br />sections for each majortype because ofthe difference in methods required to establish the irrigated types and <br />dryland pasture type. <br />Revegetation Methods -Irrigated Pasture and Irrigated Hayland <br />The majority of the revegetated areas will be returned to a postmining land use of irrigated pasture including <br />lands within the permit area which have not been disturbed, but which have had irrigation water shut-off in <br />order to better control and manage surtace and ground water within the mine area during operations. These <br />latter lands occur in the south and north portion of the proposed permit expansion area. <br />Topsoil replacement operations may be carried out during most ofthe year, the exception being those periods <br />when wet conditions would preclude handling of the topsoil materials. Prior to replacement of topsoil, the <br />graded spoil will be ripped to reduce compaction. Detailed topsoil handling and replacement plans are <br />provided in Section 2.05.4(z)(d), Topsoil (Redistribution). The optimum seeding season for establishmentof <br />• irrigated pasture is during the spring as early as soil moisture conditions allow for tillage and seeding <br />(Revised ii/z~/oo) 2.05.4(2)(e)-2 <br />