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contributing greater than 40 percent relative cover. This change <br /> reflects the discussion in the February 27 meeting. Note that a <br /> sub-shrub will be interpreted as a shrub. <br /> Areas reclaimed under 4. 15. 10 need not meet species diversity <br /> requirements (see Exhibit 13-1a) . <br /> Seasonal Variety. As agreed to in the February 27 meeting, a small <br /> study of the revegetated areas at Nucla will be undertaken to evaluate <br /> the success of warm season grass establishment. Warm season grasses <br /> have been used in post-law reclaimed areas, but they are not readily <br /> apparent in the stands (based on qualitative field observations) . If <br /> the cover and frequency data collected shows the warm season grass <br /> component to be insignificant in the revegetated stands , a request for a <br /> variance to the seasonal variety requirements will be submitted. In the <br /> meantime, one warm season grass will be added to Seed Mix No. 1. The <br /> species to be added is sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus) which was <br /> documented as occurring on the mine site from earlier baseline <br /> vegetation investigations. Fourwing saltbush and alfalfa , both warm <br /> season species , are also in Mix No. 1. Revised Pages 13-8 and 13-9 are <br /> included with this submittal . Alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides) is <br /> already included in Seed Mix No. 2. <br /> One additional argument for waiving the seasonal variety requirement <br /> which was not presented in the Nucla Permit Revision is presented here. <br /> Local land use and grazing patterns in the Nucla area result in <br /> livestock utilization of lower elevation areas (i .e. , the Nucla area) <br /> during the fall , winter, and early spring. Livestock are moved to BLM <br /> and Forest Service allotments beginning in the spring and extending <br /> through the summer and into early fall . The pattern is to graze <br /> progressively higher elevations as the grazing season extends through <br /> the summer. Thus, grazing does not generally occur (there may be some <br /> small operator exceptions) in the Nucla area during the summer resulting <br /> in the warm season grass component being insignificant in overall forage <br /> composition and utilization. The cool season grass component can <br /> provide early spring green-up, fall regrowth, and standing "hay" forage <br /> in the winter. <br /> 24 <br />