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• 4.15.3 Seedine and Plantin¢ <br />The seeding and planting of the disturbed area will be conducted during the first normal <br />period for favorable planting conditions after final preparation for seeding or planting. The <br />planting period for the Colowyo is set forth in Section 2.05.4. <br />4.15.4 Mulchine and Other Soil Stabilizine Practices <br />As addressed in Section 2.05.4, Colowyo currently does not mulch. Chisel plowing, terracing <br />and/or contour furrows are utilized to stabilize, reduce compaction and increase the moisture <br />retention capacity of regraded topsoiled areas. Spoil will be regraded to minimize long, <br />uninterrupted slopes. Respreading of topsoil will be followed by fertilizing, chisel plowing <br />and contour furrowing. <br />The use of these soil stabilizing practices on areas currently undergoing reclamation at <br />Colowyo has been very effective in controlling surface runoff, thereby preventing surface <br />erosion and gullies. <br />4.15.5 Grazin <br />All the lands reclaimed by Colowyo will not be grazed by livestock until at least one year <br />after seeding or planting and will be managed to promote the postmining ]and use. <br />• Grazing will not commence until Colowyo has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the <br />Division that the vegetation on the reclaimed surface is adequately established and can be <br />expected to withstand grazing pressures. Any grazing studies undertaken by Colowyo will <br />not preclude or interfere with postmining vegetation sampling as required in section 4.15.8. <br />4,15.6 Field Trials <br />In 1975 Colowyo funded a revegetation study that was initiated on the Colowyo property by <br />the Department of Agronomy at the Colorado State University and the Colorado State <br />University Experiment Station. The study was designed and the work was monitored mostly <br />to determine the suitability of using native species at the mine site. Test plots were used to <br />simulate the disturbance that would result from surface mining. <br />The complete details of the four-year revegetation study are found in Exhibit 10, Vegetation <br />Information. <br />Also, in 1977 an additional shrub study was initiated in conjunction with Soil Conservation <br />Service, Upper Colorado Environmental Plant Center. Approximately 35 species of shrub <br />seedlings from the Plant Materials Center are being evaluated for potential use in mined land <br />revegetation. The Center has not published a final report to date. <br />In 2000, Colowyo Mine, along with the Seneca II and Trapper Mines, participated in a shrub <br />establishment program identified as the "CSU/DMG Shrub Establishment Field Trials." This <br />• program is described below: <br />4.15-3 Revision Date: 12/12/05 <br />Revision No.: MR-77 <br />