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RECLAMATION PLAN EXHIBIT F (CONT.) <br />Using this mixture will provide approximately 41.5 seeds per <br />square foot. It is a native mixture that should restore the site to <br />its existing use. If the seed is broadcast, the amount will be <br />increased doubled and spread on a rough surface. The seeded areas <br />will then be dragged or raked thoroughly to set the seed. We <br />expect to see some natural invasion of sage and brush from adjoin- <br />ing areas so we will not seed these species to preserve the grass- <br />lands as long as possible. <br />It has been our experience on other operations that the seeded <br />area will have a heavy cover of weeds after the first year. The <br />second year there are fewer weeds as the grasses start to take <br />hold. By the third year the weeds are mostly gone and the grass <br />has established itself so it will grow in future years. These <br />weeds also tend to shade the seedbed, retain snow in the winter and <br />act as a wind break for the newly emerging grasses. <br />WEED CONTROL <br />The revegetated areas will be monitored closely each spring <br />for the first two years to determine if noxious weeds are invading <br />the area. Grand County has implemented a weed monitoring plan for <br />all our mines and this site will be included. Weed control will be <br />initiated if the problem becomes serious or if an excessive weed <br />cover is still present at the end of the second year. In no way <br />should this be taken to mean that we will try to eradicate all the <br />weeds from the site. Some weeds are beneficial to the upland game <br />species in the area, they provide important protection from the <br />elements during winter and nesting sites during the spring. Total <br />eradication of weeds from the site is not necessarily desirable, so <br />we will be using controls on the noxious weeds and letting the rest <br />grow in select areas. It may be necessary to control weeds by <br />mowing after the first year, the feasibility of chemical weed <br />control methods will be studied should other forms not work. <br />Control of noxious weeds is important to the state so we will <br />follow USDA Extension Service recommendations to control them. <br />IRRIGATION <br />No irrigation is planned for the revegetated area in the pit. <br />It makes the vegetation dependent on water and does not promote a <br />vegetation cover that is diverse and capable of self regeneration. <br />RECLAMATION PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />The operator intends to mine the property in compliance with <br />the Reclamation Performance Standards of Rule 3. Grading will be <br />done to create a final topography that is compatible with the <br />intended final land use. Most slope areas will be mined to the <br />final slopes. These slopes will be 3:1 and we will attempt to <br />retain the present drainage pattern across the property. A sign <br />that conforms to the requirements in Rule 3.1.12 (1996) will be <br />installed at the entrance to this facility prior to commencement of <br />mining. <br />The material used to create the slopes will be native material <br />found on the site at this time. It will consist of sand, gravel, <br />15