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• TAB 13 <br />POSTMINING LAND USE <br />Introduction <br />Coal removal activities at the Seneca II Mine ceased in 1999. Since the cessation of mining <br />operations the mine has transitioned into final reclamation. Tab 13, Postmining Land Use, directs the <br />reader to those areas comprising the essential components of the reGamation plan, slarfing with an <br />overview of premining land uses as they relate to vegetation and habitat. Backfilling and grading are <br />covered in Tab 12, while soil maintenance and replacement is discussed later in this tab and in Tab 9. Also <br />presented in this tab are the postmining land use plan, revegetation monitoring, revegetation success <br />standards, surface stabilization, rill and gully cenVOl measures, weed and pest conVOl measures, <br />reGamation schedule, reclamation bonding costs, and bond release procedures. <br />In addition, this tab presents the demonstrations, or directs the reviewer to the applicable <br />demonstration to retain existing mine structures and features as permanent Postmine features. <br />Permanent features that will remain on the landscape within the Seneca II Mine permit boundary <br />following bond release include roads, ponds and fence configurations. <br />• <br />Premine Land Use <br />The primary premining land use on the permit area and adjacent areas has been the grazing of domestic <br />livestock on native rangeland and utilization of associated habitat types by wildlife. In more recent years, oil, <br />gas, and methane (from coal fields) exploration and extraction, while not extensive, has become an <br />increasingly important land use. Historically, the highest economic return has been from livestock grazing. <br />However, the types of habitat and wildlife numbers in the area provide hunting and recreation opportunities <br />that contribute significantty to the overall economy. <br />The following discussion summarizes the two primary premining land uses in the area and provides a basis <br />for the development of the reclamation plan and postmining land use plan. <br />Livestock Grazing of Native Rangeland. Cattle and sheep grazing on privately-owned lands or through State <br />grazing leases has been the primary premine land use on the permit area. State grazing leases have <br />predominated (see Exhibit 3-3, Fanning and Grazing Leases). Historic grazing pressure has been higher <br />than desirable and management underemphasized with a consequent deterioration in range condition. In <br />the past, stocking rates have not been specified on State grazing leases (VonBrodkdorfF 1981). <br />• Based on Soil Conservation Service (SCS) range site descriptions for the brushy loam range site and <br />mountain loam range site, estimated range condition for the mixed brush and sagebrush types occurring in <br />the area is only fair. The brushy loam range site equates to the mountain brush vegetation type, while the <br />TR-37 13I Revised 04/05 <br />