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topographic sites, within each defined land use/vegetation community. Because <br />of the wide disparity regarding available topsoil volume between the post 2008 <br />"original permit area" reclamation units (8" over-all average replacement <br />thickness) and the South Taylor Area reclamation units (19.8" over-all average <br />replacement thickness), it will be necessary to present, in effect, two separate <br />plans, one for the original permit area units and one for the South Taylor units. <br />The plans would be similar in concept but would differ in specifics, and might <br />best be presented in two tables, one for South Taylor and one for Original Permit <br />Area. Land use/vegetation type categories within each table would logically <br />include Grazingland, Sagebrush Steppe, and Aspen/Chokecherry (possibly limited <br />to South Taylor). Topographic site categories would logically be defined by slope <br />position (e.g. ridges and upper slopes, mid slopes, and toe-slopes/drainage <br />bottoms). Favorable aspect as well as slope position would be an important <br />consideration for thick soil placement areas appropriate for aspen/chokecherry <br />conducive sites (which likely would be limited to north aspects and drainages in <br />the South Taylor area). The extent of variation that can be achieved in the <br />original permit area will be somewhat limited, due to the limited soil resource <br />available. More dramatic variation will be achievable (and will need to be <br />reflected in the plan) in the South Taylor Area, where the projected average soil <br />thickness is approximately 2.5 times greater. <br />Please provide a detailed topsoil replacement plan with commitments, in <br />accordance with the above recommendations. <br />4. The Division had requested inclusion of a special handling strategy for use of <br />sandstone or scoria overburden materials, as an additional shrub <br />establishment/diversity enhancement measure. The operator declined to include <br />the requested modification. Because it is likely that a well defined plan <br />committing to significant variation in topsoil replacement thickness will <br />accomplish sufficient substrate variability across the landscape, the Division will <br />not require special handling of select overburden material at this time. Pending <br />submittal of an acceptable soil replacement plan as requested in Item 4, the <br />Division will consider this Item Resolved. <br />Revegetation [(2.05.4(2)(e) and 4.151 <br />Supplemental Introduction in amended Section 2.05.4 <br />5. The Division had requested the operator to revise their initially proposed woody <br />plant density standards to conform with the following: <br />• A standard of at least 500 live woody plant stems per acre and at least 250 live big <br />sagebrush plants per acre will apply on "Sagebrush Steppe/Wildlife Habitat <br />Targeted Areas", and such areas will comprise a minimum 20% of the acreage of <br />post-2008 reclamation.