2009-06-24_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1981019A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 6/24/2009
• Section_Exhibit Name: 4.15 Revegetation Requirements
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

Colowyo's new reclamation plan, includes management and revegetation specifications
(e.g., shrub species in the seed mix) for use on the "grassland" targeted areas that will
facilitate additional shrub establishment when climatic or other conditions are favorable.
In this manner, small and/or scattered patches of additional shrubland may be established
that will provide improved habitat diversity, especially for sage grouse. However, since
this type of reclamation is entirely dependent on the vagaries of nature, dependence upon
such techniques cannot be relied upon.
Where shrublands evolve on these "sagebrush community attempts", they will be
segregated into "core" areas and "ecotonal" areas (as is typically evident in nature), each
with a separate woody plant density success criterion. Furthermore, it has been noted
repeatedly in the industry that the 10-year bond responsibility period is insufficient for
the adequate development of shrub populations. In this regard, flexibility must be built
into the success evaluation process (and/or criteria) so that if a positive recruitment rate to
the shrub population can be documented on Colowyo revegetation, there would be no
need to achieve elevated densities within a modest time-frame such as the 10-year
responsibility period.
Given these points, the following woody plant density success criteria will be applied to
Post-2008 revegetation efforts: On grassland communities (approximately 60% to 80%
of reclaimed acreage (>10% slope) targeting the post-mining land use of grazing-land),
zero woody plant density will be required. However, if shrub communities evolve in
these areas this acreage will count toward the wildlife habitat acreage and be subject to
the appropriate standards. On manifested shrublands (approximately 20% or more of
reclaimed acreage targeting the post-mining land use goal of wildlife habitat - sage
grouse brooding habitat), the following criteria will be applied depending on shrubland
classification. On "core areas" (areas of shrub concentration and comprising no less than
one-half the minimum total shrubland acreage), the eventual desirable goal shall be 1000
plants per acre, but the standard shall be 375 live plants per acre. At least one-half of
these totals shall be sagebrush species. In "ecotonal areas" the eventual desirable goal
shall be 500 plants per acre, but the standard shall be 200 plants per acre. The 375 and
200 plants per acre standards translate to approximately one plant for each 10.4ft. x
10.4ft. or 14.8ft. x 14.8ft. area, respectively. Furthermore, Colowyo makes the
commitment to establish sagebrush steppe (comprised of both core and ecotonal areas) on
approximately 450 acres of the post-2008 reclamation for the original and South Taylor
permit areas, or as otherwise agreed upon between Colowyo and CDRMS. This acreage
is based on the following rationale: 1) delineation of all post-2008 post-mining acreage
exhibiting slopes 10% or flatter; 2) elimination of all small, isolated, or impractical areas
for targeting this community; 3) implementing "banding" (alternating strips of grassland
versus shrubland) procedures on large units with long slopes that might otherwise lead to
excessive "snowmelt" erosion; and 4) assuming 50% shrub establishment success on the
acreage that actually receives shrub conducive metrics.
Issues with the potential longterm longevity of fourwing saltbush will require that a
maximum proportion of the countable shrubs used to demonstrate conformance with the
4.15-24 Revision Date: 3/14/08
Revision No.: TR-72