Laserfiche WebLink
• <br />• <br />• <br />vegetation type occurred prior to mining (see Tab 9, Attachment 9 -5 and Tab 10, Addendum <br />10 -3). In addition, these reclaimed areas will have only received associated disturbances <br />during mining activities. The associated disturbance relates to topsoil removal for the <br />location of roads, stockpiles, facilities, and regrading activities during reclamation. <br />These areas were not flood irrigated prior to mining because of shallow soils, rock <br />outcrops, and topography. Since these areas will remain basically unchanged in terms of <br />topography and shallow soils (topsoil replacement depth is estimated at 12 inches), they <br />will not be irrigated in the postmine land use. The establishment of a dryland pasture <br />type is consistent with both the pre- and postmining land uses in the area and best <br />reflects that which is attainable under the expected site conditions and management <br />potential. <br />The production standard for the dryland pasture type for the Nucla East area is based <br />similarly to the approved standard for the active Nucla Mine. The weighted average <br />potential production for the Travessilla -Pinon complex in a normal year is 625 <br />pounds /acre. This is based on the SCS Form 5's as follows: Travessilla soils (65 percent <br />of the complex) dry phase, normal years and Pinon soils (35 percent of the complex) moist <br />phase, normal years. Again, SCS Form 5's for these soils may be found in Attachment 2 to <br />this Tab. The areas reclaimed to dryland pasture in the Nucla East area will have <br />acceptable herbaceous production when the reclaimed area production is not less than 90 <br />percent of 625 pounds /acre with 90 percent statistical confidence. <br />Revegetation success for cover will be determined similarly to the reclaimed dryland <br />pasture type for the current Nucla Mine discussed earlier using the upland sagebrush <br />reference area as the basis. Total vegetative cover of the reclaimed dryland pasture type <br />in the Nucla East area will be considered acceptable if it is not less than 90 percent of <br />the total vegetative cover in the reference area with 90 percent statistical confidence. <br />It is requested that the success standards for species diversity, shrub density and <br />seasonal variety be waived for the dryland pasture type. The postmining land use for the <br />Nucla East area is intensive agriculture, which is consistent with the premining land use. <br />This type will occur within the irrigated pasture type. In addition, discussions with <br />operators within the Nucla East study area indicated a desire to replace the present areas <br />containing sagebrush with a more productive community oriented towards livestock grazing. <br />The present sagebrush type (formerly pinyon - juniper dominated vegetation; see Tab 10, <br />Addendum 10 -3) is not being reclaimed because it is only a minor type reflecting a <br />22 -33 Revised 07/25/91 <br />