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This mix will be used for stockpiles as well as areas to be permanently reclaimed with all areas to <br />be drill seeded following surface preparation with a disk or similar implement. The viability of <br />stockpiled topsoil will be maintained by the above seed mix, especially because of the deep-rooted <br />alfalfa. <br />Among the wildlife using the area are deer, elk, and a variety of small mammals and birds including <br />upland game birds. Deer and elk use hayfields extensively during fall, winter, and spring in <br />surrounding areas. The proposed seed mix will provide nutritious early spring forage for lactating <br />animals as well as animals coming off winter range. Upland game birds use big bluegrass and <br />alfalfa for cover as well as food sources. It is well known, based on published documentation, that <br />reclamation plantings can support relatively large numbers of small mammals which has an indirect <br />benefit to raptors by increasing the available prey base. These benefits will be realized during the <br />time that the perennial cover is in place. <br />The small amounts of native vegetation around the active mining area will generally not be <br />disturbed. After the existing sedimentation pond was enlarged to cover the increased area of <br />operations and following completion of the new pond, the banks or any other disturbances were or <br />will be seeded with the reclamation seed mix. As has occurred at the present sedimentation pond, <br />aquatic vegetation will readily invade the banks of the ponds. <br />It should be noted that the areas immediately surrounding the existing transmission towers, which <br />are farmed now, will probably not be farmed after reclamation due to access problems and steep <br />slopes. These areas are relatively minor and will be seeded with the perennial vegetative cover. <br />The postmining land use will remain pasture land/crop land with the primary crop being hay <br />crops/alfalfa with possible rotation to small grain cropping as soil conditions allow or require. <br />Discussion with DRMS (Tony Waldron, 6/15/10) determined that a performance standard is not <br />required for evaluation of reclamation success. <br />Weed control is an ongoing program at Seneca operations, monitoring and spraying will be <br />conducted as necessary using chemicals and methods approved by DRMS and Routt County. <br />E-4 Revised 07/10