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VII. OPERATIONS ON STEEP SLOPES <br />The Division proposes to approve a variance from meeting approximate original contour <br />for reclaimed areas. This variance is proposed following a demonstration that the <br />requirements of Rule 2.06.4 and 2.06.5 have been met (4.27.3). In addition the Division <br />finds the applicant has demonstrated that the requirements of Rule 4.27.4 will be met. <br />Information upon which the above finding is based can be found on pages 3-2 through 3-5 <br />of the permit application. The landowner request from the Bureau of Land Management <br />(BLM), pursuant to Rules 4.27.4(4) and 2.06.5(2)(e), is included in Appendix K, of <br />Volume IV, of the permit application. <br />VIII. REVEGETATION <br />Baseline vegetation information can be found in Section 4.5 of the application, and the <br />revegetation plan is addressed in Section 3.4. Affected vegetation types include juniper <br />woodland in the vicinity of the portal bench and upper road segment, shadscale shrubland <br />along the middle segment of the portal haul road, and greasewood shrubland in the office, <br />sediment pond, lower portal haul road, and McClane to Munger haul road areas. A <br />separate seedmix will be planted upon final reclamation within each of the vegetation <br />types, as delineated on Figure 3.1-1. Each of the seedmixes is composed of a diverse mix <br />of warm and cool season grasses, forbs, and shrubs, the majority of which are native <br />species (Tables 3.4-1 a, 3.4-1 b, and 3.4-1 c). <br />A weed control plan pursuant to new Rule 4.15.1(5) was incorporated into Section 4.5.14 <br />of the permit narrative via TR-15, in 2006. The plan, developed in consultation with the <br />Garfield County Weed Control Supervisor, addresses control of the noxious weeds <br />whitetop and Canada thistle on disturbed sites in the permit area, and also addresses <br />control of downy brome (cheatgrass) on the topsoil stockpile. <br />The following specific findings are required. <br />A. The Division proposes to approve the use of one introduced species, weeping alkali <br />grass (Puccinellia distans) in the reclamation seed mix. The species is desirable and <br />necessary to achieve the approved post-mining land use, is not poisonous or noxious, <br />and comprises less than 10% of the seeding rate on a seeds/square ft. basis, for each <br />planting area (4.15.2(3)). <br />B. The Division proposes to approve the use of certified noxious weed-free, grass hay <br />or straw mulch as a means to meet soil stabilization requirements. The mulch will be <br />crimped into the soil on drill seeded sites or anchored with tackifier on broadcast <br />seeded sites. If broadcast or hydro seeding is employed, the soil surface will be <br />extensively roughened prior to seeding by means of track-hoe gouging or contour <br />ripping (4.15.4). <br />C. Methods to measure vegetation cover, herbaceous production, species diversity, and <br />woody plant density are discussed in Section 3.4.9 of the application. These <br />techniques include point intercept for cover sampling, quadrat clipping for <br />25