PERMFILE139426

• Permit No: C1980006A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Section_Exhibit Name: PART 816 Part 2
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

• Section 816.112(d) Continued.
(1942) also documented that in certain months sage grouse consume a
higher percentage of introduced species than native plants. In
recent years, winter flocks of sage grouse have been observed to
frequent fields planted with crested wheatgrass (see: Beck 1975:22).
Sage grouse preferences for introduced species also have been
confirmed by studies in other locations. (See: Klebenow and Grey
(1968), Peterson (1970), and Wallestad, et al. (1975)).
Since all of the proposed introduced species are currently
encountered in North Park, an area of general homogeneity, the
compatibility of these introduced species seems clear. In this
regard, Kerr Coal is unaware of any published information which
supports the proposition that the proposed introduced species planted
in the proportions proposed will adversely affect diversity.
Although Sindelar 1979 in "Successional Development of Vegetation on
Surface Mined Land in Montana" published in Ecology and Coal Resource
Development reported that introduced species achieved dominance in
several sites, the seeding rates (9.29 per square foot) and the
excessive fertilization renders Sindelar's findings inapplicable to
the Kerr Coal situation. That is, the high proportion of introduced
species planted by Sindelar and the application of fertilizers of
benefit primarily to the introduced species explains the dominance
experienced. Since Kerr Coal intends to fertilize only to correct
nutrient deficiencies and since introduced species will be planted in
low proportion, a result similar to Sindelar is not expected.
Moreover, the documented desirability of the introduced species to
control erosion and the preferences of wildlife for these species far
outweigh the small potential for dominance of the introduced species
over the planted native species.
C~
816-149 aaR Revised -October, 1990