2011-05-04_REVISION - C1981019 (2)

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C1981019 TR84 Adequacy NO. 3 4 May 4, 2011 F 11. Page 4.15-17, picture `Aspen/Tall Shrub Establishment General Location - This picture shows the location of the proposed aspen/tall shrub trial area but does not give adequate reference to location in the mine, topography, scale or cardinal directions. Please include a map of the proposed area addressing these issues and the map standards of Rule 2.10. 12. Page 4.15-17, picture `Aspen/Tall Shrub Establishment General Location - This picture shows the general location of the proposed aspen/tall shrub field trial area. The area appears to have a north facing, shallow slope that is generally flat and has been disturbed by mining activity. The area is also surrounded by sagebrush steppe habitat. A sagebrush steppe is characterized by low annual precipitation and can be characterized a semi-arid grassland. These conditions are not favorable to the establishment of an aspen community. Aspens tend to occupy sites that are mesic with fine textured soils that are more fertile and they have a low drought tolerance. The Division suggests that a more suitable site for the aspen trial areas be used, such as in the bottom of a drainage. Please consider a relocation of the field trial area and discuss any possibilities. Please show the proposed location of the field trial area on Map 28 or CCC's Reclamation Map. 13. Page 4.15-18, table `Aspen & Tall Shrub Field Trials Modified Sagebrush Steppe Mix' - The sagebrush steppe seed mix has been modified to reduce the volume of " low shrubs" in favor of the tall shrubs in the mix and the grasses were also reduced to minimize competition while still providing soil stabilization. The tall shrubs that were added to the seed mix (i.e. Acer glabrum and Prunus virginiana) are adapted to more mesic sites than the grasses and forbs in the same seed mix. Please provide a separate seed mix designed for these field trials that contains a low rate of grasses and forbs combined with tall shrubs that are adapted to mesic sites consistent with the conditions associated with aspen groves. This item has been adequately resolved. 14. Page 4.15-18, Illustration "Expected Field Implementation Plan for Aspen/Tall Shrub Field Trials" - The diagram illustrates that the planting arrangements and density for containerized plant stock is 550 plants/acre. The planned area is shown to be 220 feet by 220 feet or 48,400 W. An acre is actually 43,560 ft2, _10% less than the diagram illustrates. This difference in square footage lowers the actual stem count per acre resulting in a perceived mortality rate. Please adjust the planting densities to 43,560 ft2 per acre to reflect this difference. This item has been adequately resolved. Technical Revision was initially submitted December 29, 2009. Revised pages submitted by CCC on November 8, 2010 are identified as revised on "12/22/2009". The Division sent CCC a second adequacy letter on February 25, 2011. CCC provided responses to the Division's second adequacy letter on April 11, 2011. Revised pages submitted by CCC on April 11, 2011 in response to the Division's second adequacy letter, are dated, "Revision date: 12/22/09". The Division requests that CCC revise the date on the revised pages to reflect the date that CCC has changed text on the page. This will help assure that the appropriate version of the revised pages get approved and incorporated into the DRMS permit application package (PAP), and to assure that CCC's PAP remains consistent with the approved DRMS copy. The Division's