2008-04-29_REVISION - C1981019 - Laserfiche WebLink

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scoria rock or overburden zones dominated by sandstone, for replacement as surface or near surface growth medium in certain locations. The rationale would be to provide conditions favorable for the growth of shrub species such as mountain mahogany, bitterbrush, serviceberry, and other species that are adapted to extremely rocky soils or thin soils over fractured sandstone. Please include this strategy in the reclamation plan, as an additional shrub/diversity enhancement measure to be employed in select locations. Revegetation [(2.05.4(2)(e and 4.151 In Items 5 through 18 below, the Division identifies a number of concerns with specific sections of Rule 2 application narrative. Portions of Rule 4 application narrative will likely need to be updated to correspond to amended Rule 2 narrative sections, in the response submittal to this adequacy review. The Division has identified additional adequacy concerns specific to Section 4.15 amended sections in Items 23 through 30. Supylemental Introduction in amended Section 2.05.4 5. The Division concurs that the wildlife habitat/sagebrush steppe enhancement efforts should be focused primarily on the more gentle terrain, estimated to comprise approximately 20% to 40% of the post-2008 reclaimed landscape. However, the Division believes that the woody plant density standards proposed, and the acreage to which such standards would apply, are too low. This determination is based on consideration of the large acreage of relatively low diversity grassland habitat that has been established at Colowyo in the past, and the understanding that wildlife habitat would be strongly emphasized in the remaining areas of the original permit and the South Taylor expansion. With use of the amended seedmixes, it is expected that a modest sagebrush/snowberry component would become established within the grassland/erosion control targeted slopes, as typically is the case with use of similar native dominated seedmixes at other mines in northwest Colorado. Use of the "banded seeding approach" with occasional strips of the "Sagebrush Steppe" mix included within larger patches of the "Grassland" mix could be utilized to enhance diversity and woody plant establishment on the slopes, without significantly increasing erosion potential, if warranted. Based on the plan presented, consideration of results that could reasonably be expected, and following discussion with Jon Wangnild of CDOW, the Division requests the woody plant density standard for post-2007 reclaimed areas at Colowyo be stated as follows: • A standard of at least 500 live woody plant stems per acre and at least 250 live big sagebrush plants per acre will apply on "Sagebrush Steppe/Wildlife Habitat Targeted Areas". "Sagebrush Steppe/Wildlife Habitat Targeted Areas" will comprise a minimum 20% of the acreage of post-2008 reclamation. Colowyo Coal Company, C-1981-019 TR-72 Apri129, 2008 Page 5