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2.05.5 Post-mining Land Uses <br />The implementation of the detailed reclamation plan as contained in Section 2.05.4 will <br />restore the disturbed land to the pre-mining use of rangeland. The land use of rangeland, <br />especially within the region of the Colowyo Mine is comprised of the two primary <br />subcomponents "livestock grazing or grazingland" and "wildlife habitat or sage grouse brood <br />rearing habitat". Replacement of grazingland will be facilitated by targeting revegetation <br />efforts toward grassland communities. Because grasslands are effective for erosion control, <br />this community / land use will be implemented on those lands with slopes greater than 10%. <br />Replacement of wildlife habitat (sage grouse brood rearing habitat) will be facilitated by <br />targeting revegetation efforts toward the re-establishment of a sagebrush steppe community. <br />Because sagebrush steppe is less able to preclude erosion, it will be limited to those lands <br />with slopes less than 10%. Furthermore, certain small areas with slopes flatter than 10% will <br />receive grassland targeted efforts for reasons given in Section 2.05.4.' <br />These land use subcomponents will be specifically accomplished by the regrading of the <br />spoil to create approximate original contour, restoration of drainage patterns, and <br />reapplication of the topsoil followed by seeding of the appropriate seed mixture for the <br />designated land use subcomponent. Erosion will be controlled on the newly seeded areas <br />through the use of contour furrows, terraces, banding, and/or other metrics until the <br />vegetation has sufficiently established. The lands will also be protected from noxious weeds <br />or other biological processes such as cattle grazing until the stands are sufficiently <br />established to support grazing pressure. <br />The proposed land use of rangeland for the reclaimed area is identical to the pre-mining land <br />use found in the area. Colowyo owns all but approximately 1,109 acres (469 of which is <br />Bureau of Land Management land and 640 is State Land) of the land to be disturbed by the <br />mining and reclamation operations. No change in land use is expected in the proposed land <br />use categories. Therefore, the proposed land use will be consistent with the historic land use <br />on lands within the current permit area. Specifically, Colowyo proposes to reclaim the mined <br />areas to a rangeland condition capable of supporting both domestic livestock and wildlife. <br />One of the objectives of the reclamation plan and grazing management plan will be to <br />provide grazing for livestock. The other objective will be to restore and improve habitats for <br />deer, elk, and sage grouse. <br />Comments from the Bureau of Land Management and the State of Colorado approving the <br />proposed postmining land use are provided in Exhibit 1, Documents and Leases. <br />The observation of hundreds of deer and elk utilizing reclaimed areas at Colowyo confirm <br />our success in meeting these goals. It is generally recognized that the herbaceous <br />communities of grasses and forbs found on older reclaimed mining areas and other similar <br />areas in northwest Colorado have in fact attracted these important wildlife species from <br />surrounding native rangelands. Therefore, even though the grassland targeted areas are <br />designed for livestock grazing, they exhibit a component of wildlife habitat as well. <br />Shrubs will also be replaced through seeding techniques to meet applicable regulatory <br />requirements as described in Section 4.15.8. <br />2.05-66 Revision Date: 3/14/08 <br />Revision No.: TR-72