2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (108)

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RULE 2 PERMITS 5) the target post- mining land use. In this manner, reclamation and resultant developing communities will be encouraged to follow a more natural path to maturation and successional progression as opposed to more historically utilized grassland favorable approaches that should only be applied to the remaining 60% to 80% of reclaimed ground (sloping areas). However, there will likely be instances, if not an overall need, to incorporate managerial practices to encourage or protect positive recruitment to the shrub populations. Such management may include the following steps: • Use of elevated quantities of sagebrush seed within the grassland target areas, and placement of that seed in a manner to encourage sagebrush emergence. • Use of limited livestock (cattle) grazing to select against grasses and for shrubs and forbs. • Use of elk -proof fencing to preclude access into large blocks of maturing shrub populations, especially core areas. • Use of hunting pressure to reduce elk utilization of new reclamation where it can be incorporated in a safe manner given proximity to active mining. Develop special seasons in concert with CDOW for management of "refuge" elk. For obvious reasons, any activity in this regard would have to be designed and approved for implementation in accordance with applicable statutes. Furthermore, approvals from appropriate agencies (CDOW, MSHA, etc.) will be obtained as necessary. • Use of orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata) in key reclamation locations to encourage elk away from maturing shrub populations. It has been documented that this taxon is heavily utilized by foraging elk. • Implement procedures for micro - habitat development whereby snow catchment is encouraged and shrub heavy mixes can be applied. • Interseeding of shrubs (as necessary as a normal husbandry practice) within areas not exhibiting satisfactory establishment of shrubs, but still presenting opportunities (micro - niches) for shrubs. Such interseeding would be performed in accordance with Rule 4.15.7(5)(g), and documentation of any such efforts would be provided in the Annual Reclamation Report for that year. Application of PERA 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 reclaimed lands, 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 but both counting as "shrubland ". Ecotonal areas are those areas that exhibit shrub - conducive habitat conditions (e.g., thin grass cover, skeletal soils, etc.), but have not as yet developed the more elevated densities of "core" areas. It has been noted repeatedly in the reclamation industry that the 10 -year bond responsibility period is often insufficient for the adequate development of shrub populations unless an Collom — Rule 2, Page 107 Revision Date: 1/23/09 Revision No.: PR -03