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-45- <br /> The study indicated that revegetation success standards could be met with soil <br /> cover greater than 12 inches. The study also showed that revegetation <br /> standards could be met with a soil cover of 6-12 inches if the Aspen woodland <br /> revegetation success standard was used. This is appropriate for most if not <br /> all the old refuse pile since the adjacent vegetation type is primarily aspen <br /> woodland. <br /> The slopes in the old refuse pile are primarily north facing with some east <br /> facing slopes. Therefore, the applicant should be able to meet revegetation <br /> success standards on the east facing and north facing slopes of the new refuse <br /> pile, based on the previous study. On the west facing slopes the applicant <br /> proposes to replace 18-24 inches of topsoil and 24-30 inches on the south <br /> facing slopes. Additional topsoil was felt to be needed on the west and south <br /> aspects since these slopes are more xeric than the north and east facing <br /> slopes. Based on the previous mentioned study it would be expected that the <br /> applicant would be able to meet revegetation success standards on the south <br /> and west facing slopes, but the applicant must verify this by conducting <br /> periodic revegetation monitoring (see Section XI of this document for further <br /> information) . <br /> As previously stated, no topsoil was salvaged when the mines were opened. The <br /> applicant proposes to strip topsoil from a borrow area near Mine No. 3 to <br /> place on the mine benches. Topsoil will be replaced on the mine benches to a <br /> depth of approximately 12 inches and the borrow area will be reclaimed. Based <br /> on previous revegetation at the mine, this should be sufficient to meet <br /> revegetation standards. <br /> The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br /> XI. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e) and 4.15 <br /> Information on vegetation in section III-H, and Appendix III-H-1 of Volume 6, <br /> the reclamation plan in Chapter V of Volume 7 of the application and <br /> vegetation information and the reclamation plan in Permit Revision No. 1 were <br /> reviewed for compliance. <br /> Three major vegetation types were identified during the baseline vegetation <br /> study of the new coal refuse disposal area; Mountain Shrub, Aspen Woodland, <br /> and Montane Meadow. The Mountain Shrub vegetation type is found primarily on <br /> the west facing Mancos shale ridges; the Aspen Woodland type of found <br /> primarily along the Spring Creek drainage; and the Meadow type is found in the <br /> valleys. <br /> The applicant has proposed to use the Meadow type as the revegetation success <br /> standard for the whole pile area. The Division believes that this will be an <br /> appropriate standard for the entire pile since: 1) the vegetation established <br /> on the reclaimed pile will be primarily herbaceous; 2) the aspen woodland <br /> vegetation the was identified primarily in the wet areas adjacent to Spring <br /> Creek, which will not be restored; and 3) the Mountain Shrub community was <br />