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topsoil was salvaged were surfaced with at least 6 inches of the best available material on site <br />following removal of coaly material and placement of additional fill as needed. The borrow <br />material from the UTL was used for fill and surface material at the South Portal disturbed areas <br />including the highwall backfill and road fill slope areas. The non-active use portions of the <br />industrial/commercial postmining land use area were covered with a suitable amount of plant <br />growth material and amended as necessary. Following placement of the suitable material the <br />graded surface was significantly roughened to relieve compaction and limit surface slippage. <br />Reve eta ation <br />A portion of the South Portal that is considered "Active Use" area is delineated on Exhibit 6C-A. <br />The "Active Use" areas were not revegetated; non-active use portions of the alternative land <br />use areas (such as Access Road 1 backfill slopes, Access Road 1 A fill slopes, and highwall <br />backfill areas) were revegetated to provide a stabilizing vegetative cover. As described earlier in <br />this report the alternative land use vegetated areas will not be required to meet the specific <br />success criteria applicable to reclaimed Wildlife Habitat postmining land use areas. In this case, <br />previously mined lands or areas to be developed for industrial use, the requirements of 4.15. 10 <br />apply. <br />Revegetation was successfully established to control erosion on all non-active use areas. The <br />site was vegetated utilizing the approved seed mixture by hydro seeding or broadcast seeding in <br />smaller isolated areas. Certified weed free mulch containing tackifier was then applied at the rate <br />of approximately 4,000 pounds per acre. The entire South Portal area requested for bond release <br />was successfully revegetated with exception of only minor occurrence of bare spots due to rocky <br />ground conditions. However, these isolated areas were on flat lying ground and no erosion was <br />occurring. Observations verified that ground cover of living plants was adequate to control <br />erosion. See Photograph Number 7, which shows adequately revegetated and stable ground <br />conditions at the reclaimed South Portal. No evidence of rills, gullies, or sheet wash erosion was <br />observed anywhere in the release request area. <br />The slopes in the South Portal Area and above and below the access road supported an effective <br />cover of shrub dominated vegetation (Photograph Number 8). Dominant species were <br />greasewood and fourwing saltbush, with lesser components of winterfat and shadscale saltbush. <br />Perennial grasses were present in some areas, though distribution was patchy. Annual grasses <br />and forbs were also present in various locations in the shrub understory. The vegetative cover on <br />the slopes, combined with the roughened surface, has effectively stabilized the slopes, with no <br />excessive erosion evident. <br />The only noxious weed specie that has been present in isolated portions of the non-active use <br />areas is whitetop. Whitetop has been sprayed on the disturbed and adjacent area in recent years <br />by the operator, and has been successfully controlled on the reclamation. Some annual weed <br />growth was noted during the site inspection but nothing excessive or uncontrolled. The non- <br />active use portions of the site are well vegetated with no significant rills or gullies identified <br />anywhere in the bond release area. No problems were identified with regard to revegetation <br />considerations for the entire bond release request area. <br />Page 10