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of 375 stems per acre on core areas, 200 per acre on ecotone (no <br />allowance for "positive recruitment"). At least V2 of the shrubs on core <br />areas and ecotone areas will be big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), <br />and no more than 20% of the countable shrubs will be fourwing <br />saltbush. Sagebrush Steppe core areas shall comprise at least 225 <br />acres of the post-2008 reclaimed landscape, with Sagebrush Steppe <br />ecotone areas accounting for the remaining acreage up to a total <br />acreage of at least 450 acres. <br />• A standard of 0 stems per acre on grazingland areas. <br />A standard of at least 150 stems per acre on at least 3% of the pre- <br />2008 reclaimed surface. <br />Colowyo's Response: <br />Colowyo accepts the Divisions' terms with the understanding that should <br />the aerial extent of mining be reduced in the South Taylor area in the <br />future, the required acres (450 total, etc.) will be reduced appropriately as <br />well, given a reduction in disturbance of native acres. This issue was <br />discussed during the recent meeting held at Colowyo, with Jim Stark. <br />6. Item Resolved in first adequacy review. <br />7. Item Resolved in first adequacy review. <br />8. Item Resolved in first adequacy review. <br />Revegetation Plan in amended Section 2.05.4 <br />9. Item Resolved in first adequacy review. <br />10. The Division had recommended removal of fourwing saltbush from the shrub <br />steppe seedmix and inclusion of additional native forb species. The operator <br />provided justification for inclusion of fourwing saltbush, including the stipulation <br />that fourwing saltbush would be allowed to count for no more than 20% of the <br />countable plants toward the woody plant density standard. Colowyo declined to <br />amend the proposed seedmixes to include additional native forbs, due to limited <br />success with such species in the past. The Division's point regarding inclusion of <br />additional native forbs, was that such species would likely perform better in the <br />context of the native seedmixes and variable soil depth environment proposed, <br />than has been the case in the past, given the preponderance of more competitive <br />species and uniformly thick soil replacement. <br />The Division will not press the issue further at this time, and will in coming years <br />assess the results achieved with the combination of seed mixes and reclamation <br />practices proposed. The proposed restriction on the contribution of fourwing <br />saltbush toward the shrub success standard is acceptable. Item Resolved.