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21. The Division requested updates to the out-dated sagegrouse mitigation section of <br />the Fish and Wildlife Plan. The section was properly amended. Item Resolved. <br />22. The Division requested that the last paragraph on page 2.05-73 be updated to <br />more clearly reflect current wildlife concerns. The paragraph was properly <br />amended. Item Resolved. <br />Rule 4.15 Revegetation Performance Standards <br />23. The Division requested clarification regarding use of introduced species, which <br />was provided, with one exception. The first sentence of amended page 4.15-3 <br />states that "the post-2008 seedmix is comprised entirely of native species", which <br />is incorrect. <br />Please amend the cited sentence to add a clause at the end stating "with the <br />specific exceptions described below". <br />24. The Division requested revision of various narrative sections to clarify which of <br />various soil stabilization techniques will be utilized, and to be internally <br />consistent. The operator indicates in their response that convections were made as <br />appropriate. However, inconsistencies and ambiguities remain. Narrative on <br />amended page 2.05-46 is definitive regarding use of contour furrows, and <br />complies with Rule 4.15-1. On the other hand, narrative on pages 2.05-60 and <br />4.15-3 is unclear regarding which, if any of various stabilization measures will be <br />employed. Presumably, the various other measures described would be employed <br />in conjunction with contour furrows, but this is not clear from the text. <br />Please amend narrative on amended pages 4.15-3 and 2.05-60 to eliminate <br />ambiguity, and specify soil stabilization practices that will be used on <br />regraded and topsoiled areas, pursuant to Rule 4.15.4. <br />25. The Division noted a lack of clarity and internal inconsistencies in the amended <br />application, regarding which areas of the reclaimed landscape would be compared <br />directly to a single reference area (the original permit sagebrush reference area), <br />and which areas would be compared to multiple reference areas using weighted <br />average comparison. Narrative corrections, as well as the additional information <br />provided on new Map 44 were adequate to address the Division's concerns. <br />Original permit area post-2008 grazingland and all pre-2008 lands will be <br />compared against the 1980 Mountain Shrub Reference Area (55% weighting) and <br />1981 Sagebrush Reference Area (45% weighting). South Taylor grazingland will <br />be compared against the 1980 mountain shrub reference area (52% weighting), <br />1981 Sagebrush Reference Area (25% weighting), and 1984 aspen reference area <br />(23% weighting). All post-2008 lands on the original permit area and the South <br />Taylor area that evolve into sagebrush steppe community will be directly <br />compared to the 1981 Sagebrush Reference Area.