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Only clean grain straw that is free of noxious or problem weeds will be used. The <br />regrading or stabilizing of rills and gullies is presented at the end of this Tab. <br />7.0 Discussion of Pre -Mine Areas <br />The baseline investigations conducted in 1979 identified agricultural lands as the most <br />extensive type on the survey area at 63.5 acres. Production was estimated at 2,000 to <br />3,000 pounds per acre; however, no data was collected and no reference areas were <br />required to be established when Peabody Coal Company mined and reclaimed the land <br />at New Horizon 1. Since Western Fuels has taken over the responsibly of the <br />reclamation, a 6+ acre tract of land has been planted as irrigated alfalfa hayland near the <br />brick house known as the Rice Tract to accommodate the new land owner, Garvey & <br />Company. No previous reference areas were established at NH1. Since the 6+ acres at <br />the formerly known Rice Tract will be owned and managed by Garvey & Company, the <br />same Garvey family that is depicted in Table 2.04.10 -8, WFC feels the performance <br />standard should be modified to reflect their management practice and beliefs. See Table <br />22 -3 for the modified seasonal hay productions estimates. <br />The next most abundant type sampled was the grassland type at 24.7 acres. This area <br />represented abandoned irrigated hayland and thus was in rather poor condition. The <br />grassland reference area that was established was dominated by weedy or annual species <br />and thus is not desirable to be used as a reference area. The upland sagebrush type, <br />at 6 acres, represented the least disturbed native community in the 1979 study. A <br />reference area for the upland sagebrush type was established on a ridge top to the east <br />of NPDES Pond 006. The upland sagebrush reference area and approximately 16 acres <br />of this type located in the vicinity of mining areas 2 and 3 were sampled in 1986. The <br />juniper and riparian types identified in the 1979 study totaled just under 4 acres and were <br />determined to be insignificant in their contribution and thus reference areas were not <br />required. The upland sagebrush reference are has been replaced with the Nucla airport <br />reference area, which is later described as the New Dryland Pasture Reference Area <br />2005. <br />In consideration of site characteristics, climatic conditions, and the high level of <br />agricultural activity of the surrounding area, the highest and best use to reclaim to would <br />be agricultural lands capable of sustaining a level of grazing without supplemental water <br />while providing protection of the soil resource. In addition, portions of these lands would <br />respond favorably to irrigation. Thus, the majority of the postmining land use has been <br />designated as dryland pasture or rangeland for livestock grazing and wildlife use. It is <br />apparent that these types of reclaimed lands can also benefit wildlife as evidenced by the <br />observation of heavy utilization of reclaimed lands by elk in the southeastern portion of <br />the permit area. <br />REVISED 11 Nov 09 Tab 22 -13 <br />