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Postmining Land Use [2.05.5 and 4.161 <br />19. Please amend the postmining land use narrative beginning on amended page 2.05-64 to be <br />consistent with changes requested in various revegetation plan sections. Pastureland or Cropland <br />postmining land use may be appropriate for disturbed areas associated with the Gossard Loadout, <br />and the section will need to be amended as appropriate. <br />Colowyo's Response: <br />Please see comment 15 for discussion of Gossard Loadout reclamation. Section 2.05 text has <br />been modified as appropriate. <br />Fish and Wildlife Plan [2.05.6(2) and 4.18 <br />20. The introductory "Fish and Wildlife" paragraph on amended page 2.05-68 contains the statement that <br />"...after decades of experience, it has become obvious that reestablishment of shrubs on the reclaimed <br />area is not critical to encourage wildlife use such as by elk." It would be appropriate to address the <br />extent of use of grassland reclamation by elk, pronghorn, and mule deer, which may not have been <br />anticipated originally, and to note as well as the difficulties experienced with shrub reestablishment. <br />Continuing efforts to improve reclamation methods to achieve better woody plant establishment and site <br />diversity to benefit a wide range of species, including sage grouse, which are dependent on sagebrush, <br />should be discussed. <br />Please update the section as appropriate. <br />Colowyo's Response: <br />Comment noted - corrections to text made as appropriate. <br />21. The Sagegrouse Mitigation plan, beginning on page 2.05-71, is presented as a May 25, 1982 response <br />letter, but in fact there were at least some minor changes made in the recent submittal. Given results <br />achieved from the original 1982 reclamation plan in most areas, the projection that "the density and <br />structures of the shrub component within the post-mine community should provide the diversity of cover <br />and density suited to sagegrouse nesting" was obviously not borne out, and the narrative is somewhat <br />dated. <br />Please provide an updated postscript to the sagegrouse mitigation section to acknowledge that the <br />original reclamation plan methods did not result in a shrub component consistent with original <br />projections in most areas. In addition, include discussion and reference to reclamation plan <br />changes which have been made to enhance the potential for successful establishment of sagebrush <br />steppe vegetation, in part to benefit sagegrouse. <br />Colowyo's Response: <br />Comment noted - corrections to text made as appropriate.