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Within PR-3, SCC requested, and the Division approved, a variance from the approximate original <br />contour restoration requirements for steep slope mining, pursuant to Rules 2.06.5 and 4.27.4. <br />Approval of the variance has allowed SCC to retain the flat mine bench, the existing shop and <br />warehouse, an access road and parking areas for the approved commercial postmining land use at the <br />South Portal facilities area. The specific findings required by Rule 2.06.5 and by Rule 4.27.4 for the <br />South Portal area are provided in Section B. VIII of the Proposed Decision and Findings of <br />Compliance for Permit Revision No. 3 dated July 30, 2007. <br />There is no steep slope variance request from SCC associated with Permit Revision No. 4. <br />IX. Reve etation <br />Vegetation information reviewed by the Division can be found in Section 2.04.10, Tab 10, Volume 3; <br />Revegetation Plan information is in Section 2.05.4 (2)(e), Tab 14, of Volume 5 of the application. <br />Due to the fact that the Roadside and Cameo Mines were existing prior to enactment of SMCRA and <br />the Colorado Act, no baseline vegetation data was collected from areas already disturbed by surface <br />operations and facilities. The permittee established reference areas and gathered the appropriate <br />baseline vegetation information prior to initial issuance of the permit. <br />The vegetation surrounding the disturbed area is a sparsely covered salt desert vegetation type, <br />and along the Colorado River a riparian vegetation type exists. Common salt desert species include <br />grasses such as galleta (Hilaria ija mesii), Indian ricegrass O o sis hymenoides) and squirreltail <br />(Sitanian hystrix) and shrubs such as winterfat Ceratoides Janata), shadscale saltbush (Atri lex <br />confertifolia) and fourwing saltbush Atri lex canescens). The riparian vegetation type is <br />characterized by species including willows Salix spp.), cottonwoods Po ulus spp.), salt cedar <br />(Tamarix parviflora) and bluegrass Loa sW.). Greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) occurs along <br />the margins of the riparian zone, and along ephemeral and intermittent drainages and adjacent <br />colluvial toe slopes. <br />During 1982, the permittee selected three community study areas to represent communities present <br />prior to disturbance by mining. These study areas encompassed a greasewood shrubland community, a <br />shadscale shrubland community, and a mixed greasewood shadscale community. <br />During the summer of 1982, the study areas were sampled for vegetative cover, herbaceous <br />production, woody plant density, species diversity, and threatened and endangered species. After <br />review of the community character, it was determined that these study areas would serve as reference <br />areas for revegetation success criteria for cover and production for areas previously disturbed. <br />Various issues of concern were identified by the Division during the mid-term review of 1995 and <br />subsequent PR-02 review, including questions regarding the applicability of the original vegetation <br />study areas to serve as reference areas for all current and proposed future disturbance sites. <br />Modifications to revegetation success demonstrations, seedmixes, and various aspects of the <br />revegetation plan were requested, along with an updated endangered plant survey covering areas of <br />proposed future disturbance. All issues of concern raised by the Division during the PR-02 review <br />were adequately addressed. <br />Permit Revision No. 4 40 February 3, 2009