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Revegetation plan information is presented in Section 3.5.3.6, and 3.9, and Tables 3.4-1 and <br />3.4-2. The Division has reviewed the Munger Canyon Mine revegetation plan and <br />revegetation criteria during the course of the original permit review, and numerous <br />subsequent mid-term and permit renewal reviews. All aspects of the revegetation plan, <br />including standards of success and methods of success determination are in compliance with <br />applicable requirements. <br />In Technical Revision No. 11, certain modifications were made to the revegetation plan <br />within Section 3.9 of the permit application, primarily in response to BLM comments made <br />during the public comment period. These changes included commitment to the use of <br />certified weed free mulch, and modification to the reclaimed area fencing plans to <br />accomodate livestock movement along the travel route in Munger Canyon. Additionally, <br />based on the limited disturbance acreage, the requirement for quantitative interim <br />revegetation monitoring was eliminated. The need for interim monitoring will be re- <br />evaluated if qualitative observations indicate potential concerns with revegetation success. <br />In Technical Revision No. 16, certain additional modifications were approved to the <br />revegetation plan. TR-16 amendments included refinements to seeding techniques and <br />seedbed preparation treatments, an amended permanent seedmix for the mine disturbed areas, <br />and amended success standards. The Big Sagebrush Shrubland Seed Mixture was approved <br />as the sole seed mix to be used for final reclamation of the mine area disturbances. This <br />change was approved based on the very limited acreage of disturbance, and the fact that the <br />unconsolidated substrate following reclamation grading and topsoiling will be more <br />conducive to the establishment of a sagebrush/grass community than a pinyon juniper <br />community. The seed mixture contains a diverse assemblage of adapted native shrubs, <br />grasses, and forbs. The sagebrush reference area will be used in comparisons of <br />revegetation success for vegetation cover and herbaceous production for all mine area <br />permanent reclamation. <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n) the Division has determined that no threatened or endangered <br />species of plants will be affected by operations at the Munger Canyon site, based on <br />information supplied by the applicant, Biological Assessment prepared by OSM, and <br />memorandum of concurrence provided by US WFS (see Table 4.6-9 and Appendix L(iii) of <br />the permit application. The following additional specific findings are required. <br />1. The Division proposes to approve the use of an introduced species in the reclamation <br />seed mix. The applicant has submitted information which shows that the introduced <br />species are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved post-mining land use, and <br />are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2). The only introduced species approved is <br />Kochia prostrata, a drought tolerant, salt tolerant half shrub approved for use at the <br />Loma Loadout. There are no introduced species in the Big Sagebrush Shrubland <br />Seed Mixture approved for final reclamation in the mine area, nor are there any <br />introduced species in the stabilization seedmix approved for the mine area. <br />35