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11. Item Resolved in first adequacy review. <br />12. Item Resolved in first adequacy review. <br />13. In previous review letters, both DOW (see attached 7 March 2008 DOW letter) <br />and the Division have requested reclamation plan amendments to address <br />reestablishment of small patches of aspen and tall shrub communities. These <br />community types provide important wildlife habitat functions, even when present <br />as small patches within a landscape dominated by grassland or sagebrush steppe. <br />Previous small scale research and operational plantings have indicated the <br />potential for successful establishment, if appropriate measures are taken. In <br />consideration of the significant acreage of these community types that has been <br />disturbed by Colowyo, and may be disturbed by future operations in the Danforth <br />Hills (Collom), the Division believes it is important for Colowyo to include plans <br />for a limited number of aspen and tall shrub establishment areas in appropriate <br />site locations. <br />Inclusion of aspen and tall shrub plantings in appropriate locations would be <br />important from the standpoint of providing habitat for various wildlife species as <br />the stands mature, "islands" for seed and vegetative dispersal in the future and <br />demonstrating successful planting approaches for use in the region. <br />Given the intensity of elk use at Colowyo, and results the Division has observed <br />at Colowyo and other mines in northwest Colorado, including recent and on-going <br />research as well as operational plantings, fencing to exclude elk appears to be <br />necessary for successful establishment of aspen and tall shrub species such as <br />serviceberry and chokecherry. Proper substrate and site conditions, appropriate <br />planting stock, and use of weed barrier or other intensive measures to control <br />herbaceous competition also appear to be necessary considerations. <br />Please review previous letters from the Division and DOW regarding this <br />matter, and provide detailed plans for the establishment of both thick soil <br />(aspen/chokecherry/serviceberry etc.) planting sites and thin/rocky soil <br />(serviceberry, bitterbrush, etc.) planting sites. In the Division's most recent <br />meeting with DOW staff, Jon Wangnild indicated a number of smaller tall <br />shrub and aspen planting sites would be acceptable, in lieu of the two relative <br />large planting areas that DOW had requested in their 7 March 2008 letter. <br />This approach is also acceptable to the Division. <br />Colowyo's Response: <br />Colowyo has amended Section 4.15.6 to include specific language committing <br />Colowyo to the establishment of three field trials to resolve this issue. Colowyo <br />believes a reasonable approach moving forward would be to develop a site <br />specific plan for each field trial as the opportunity for implementing such trials <br />present themselves as reclamation progresses in the future. Colowyo has