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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3.3.14 Reclamation & Weed Management PlanReclamation Plan PA 41-9 Well Pad The PA 41-9 well pad is located on property owned by Battlement Mesa Partners. The pad site is approximately 2 acres in size. The location is located in the Potts-Ildefonso complex soil series. Topsoil and subsoil stripping The topsoil will be removed and segregated in accordance with Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission rule 1002.b. (2). The topsoil horizon or the top six inches, whichever is deeper, will be removed and stockpiled on site. The soil horizons removal and placement will be based on noted changes in physical characteristics such as organic content, color, texture, density and consistency. Soil Stockpiling The stockpiled topsoil materials will be located in the area identified on Plat 2 of the Survey plat package. Soil stockpiles will be managed to promote the preservation of soil viability while preventing the loss of soil resources due to wind and water erosion. Temporary Revegetation Efforts The topsoil stock pile as well as all cut and fill slopes will be seeded immediately after well pad construction is completed. The seed mixture to be applied is provided in Table 1. The seed mixture will be hand broadcasted and then the area seeded will be drag harrowed or hand raked to ensure good seed to soil contact is accomplished. Stabilization and Interim Reclamation Interim reclamation will be preformed according to COGCC 1000 series regulations. As the site is located on non -crop lands the drilling pit will be closed no later than six months after drilling and completion activities conclude, weather permitting. The objectives of interim reclamation will be as follows. • Stabilization of the disturbed areas by providing wind and water erosion control to reduce soil loss and ensure long term stability. • Utilize the prescribed seed mixture and additional revegetation practices as described below to establish a self sustaining vegetative rangeland cover. Page 1 of 4 Backfilling, Grading, and recontouring Typical slopes will be brought back to 3:1 when possible and will be recontoured to blend in with the existing topography. The pad size will be reduced from approximately 2.0 acres to .75 acres. That area will be maintained for well maintenance, servicing, and production operations. Further pad reductions may be possible based on landowner requirements and site conditions. Topsoil and Soil replacement Topsoil salvaged when the wells are drilled will be redistributed over the soil surface after subsoil has been replaced and additional backfilling, grading, and re -contouring steps have been completed as described below. Topsoil will be replaced using heavy construction equipment (Front-end loaders, Track -hoes, Bull dozers, and Scrapers). Topsoil will be replaced in a manner as to not jeopardize soil structure. Seedbed Preparation/Soil Tillage Seedbed preparation and soil tillage will be completed after the application of subsoil and topsoil. The subsoil will be ripped to a minimum of 18" prior to the application on topsoil. Soil tillage will be to a minimum depth of 4" utilizing a disk, chisel plow, or harrow. Removal of coarse rock fragments may also occur at the request of the landowner. Seeding Methods Temporary seeding will be conducted immediately following well pad construction. Interim seeding will occur during the next appropriate seeding season (spring or fall) based on when pit closure and pad recontouring occur. Seeding efforts will consist of drill seeding with a rangeland drill to a planting depth of to 1/2" on slopes that are 3:1 or flatter. Broadcast seeding followed by harrowing or hand raking too lightly cover the seed with soil will be used on slopes steeper than 3:1 or areas that are inaccessible to drill seeding equipment. All well sites, access roads, flow line, and gathering line right-of-ways will be mulched as soon as practical after seeding with a weed free straw or grass hay material. Mulch will be applied at 1 1/2 to 2 tons per acre depending on site conditions. Mulch material will be crimped into the soil surface with a commercial mulch crimper, a straight disc or bulldozer tracks if too steep to otherwise crimp mulch in place. In order to prevent short term impacts to new growth from livestock grazing, a three strand barbed-wire fence will be constructed and maintained until vegetation has re-established the site to a level that will accommodate grazing. Page 2 of 4 Seed Mixtures The temporary seed mixture to be applied is provided in Table 1. The anticipated interim seed mix to be applied is provided in Table 2. However, these seed mixtures may be changed at the landowners request. Erosion Control Provisions The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Colorado Discharge Permit System will be adhered to. The "Parachute Field Permit COR -038541" covers construction activities within the Parachute Field and the "Construction Field Wide Stormwater Management Plan Parachute Field" outlines how Williams will adhere to their SWMP and implement BMPs. Final Reclamation Final reclamation will be preformed according to COGCC 1000 series regulations. Weed Control Plan The Williams weed control plan shall be adhered to for this project. Table 1 Common Name Scientific Names Variety Season Form PLS Ibs/acre* Plant One of the Following Wheat x Tall Wheatgrass Triticum aestivtmt x Elytrigia elongata Regreen** Cool Annual 10 Wheat x Cereal Rye y Triticum aestirum x Secale cereale QuickGuard** Cool Annual 30 and Both of the Following Streambank Wheatgrass Elymus lanceolatus ssp. psammophilus, Agropyron riparium Sodar Cool Sod- formin g 4 Slender Wheatgrass Elymus trachycatdus, Agropyron trachycattlwn San Luis, Pryor Cool Bunch 4 Page 3 of 4 Table 2 Common Name Scientific Names Variety Season Form PLS lbs/acre` Yellow sweetclover Melilotus officinalis VNS NA NA 0.5 Alfalfa Medicago sativa Vernal NA NA 0.5 Cicer Milkvetch Astragalus cicer Oxley NA NA 1.0 Orchardgrass Dactylis glomerata Potomac Cool Bunch 2.0 Smooth Broome Bromus Inermis Lincoln Cool Sod 3.0 Intermediate Wheatgrass Elytrigia intermedia Oahe Cool Sod 3.0 Crested wheatgrass Agropyron cristatum Hycrest Cool Bunch 3.0 Page 4 of 4 ROUSTABOUT SPECIALTIES, INC PERMANENT SEED RECLAMATION FORM >Jr .3.567 . /1/// 3333S' Customer:/r /2��5' Location: ,29 - County: C> -f Date seed applied: 5-47-07 .-c7 Soil & Weather Conditions: 0%,2L State: -h7z-91(-?b Seed application: Remarks: /(7 % drilled % broadcasted Soil Preparation: //moi % disc % ripped Remarks: Seed type or blend: ,.621:146)//3 r ` Remarks : Fertilizer or straw mulch used and application: /14/744:4,g g9,/vie.; 4 ,2/ Remarks: Total footage or acreage planted: 7-, G y� Seed crew: / rte' Sin/� Williams Weed Management Plan Noxious weed infestations may occur on lands that fall within Williams Production (Williams) lease boundaries. These areas include well pads, lease roads, disturbed sites, reclaimed sites, and some undisturbed areas. In order to minimize impacts that may result from the presence of noxious weeds, improve reclamation success, and ensure good land stewardship, Williams had adopted the following Integrated Noxious Weed Management Plan. The Weed management plan is designed to bring Williams into compliance with the Colorado Noxious Weed Act (C.R.S. Title 35, Article 5.5), Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Act, and the Garfield County Noxious Weed Management Plan. Weed Management activities will primarily focus on the Garfield County Noxious Weed List. Williams' Integrated weed management plan will focus on four components of weed management. • Prevention • Inventory and Mapping • Weed Control • Monitoring Prevention - Prevention is a key component of the Williams weed management program. Williams addresses prevention in the planning, development, and operations phases of field development. Williams tries to avoid or limit ground disturbance activities when practical. If ground disturbing activities cannot be avoided, Williams tries to plan development that will avoid identified weed infestation or areas where weed establishment may be more optimal if this is practical to operations. If ground disturbing activities do occur, Williams uses temporary or permanent seed mixes that help to develop healthy stands of vegetation that can be self sustaining and deter the establishment of invasive species. Inventory and Mapping — Williams uses various means to inventory noxious weeds that fall within its lease boundaries. First, members of Williams Environmental staff are competent in weed identification and note noxious weed occurrences when they are completing field work. Second, the environmental staff works to educate field operations staff to identify weed infestations so that they can also document infestations and inform environmental staff where they are located. If operations personnel are unsure of a suspected infestation, they contact the Environmental staff. The suspected infestation is then investigated before it is documented as an infestation. Third, Williams hires a Certified Weed Applicator to do its bare ground and noxious weed spraying. While the Applicator is conducting their annual spraying activities they document infestations they find. Lastly, many of the lands that Williams operates on are also used for livestock grazing or agricultural purposes and Williams works with the lessees to document weed infestations that the lessees may identify. Weed Control — Williams uses an Integrated Weed Management Approach for the control of identified noxious weed infestations. This is made up of four control methods. These include Cultural, Mechanical, Biological, and Chemical. • Cultural — Cultural control is the use of management practices that will help to favor the growth of desirable species over undesirable species. This establishment is accomplished by using appropriate seed mixes that reflect the surrounding area or species that have been developed and are approved for rapid stabilization of a site. Purchased seed and mulch are certified weed free to decrease the opportunity for noxious weed species to be introduced into disturbed sites. • Mechanical — Mechanical controls methods most often used by Williams include the following. Mowing, tillage, and hand pulling. However, because mechanical methods tend to be fairly labor intensive and cost prohibitive, it is not typically a preferred method but can be used in sensitive areas or areas where topography or other environmental factors may be considered prohibitive. • Biological - Biological Control Methods are the release of organisms that are know to be effective in controlling specific weed species. This method may be chosen if there is a heavy infestation of a specific species on a site. Williams will consult with the Colorado Department of Agriculture Insectary located in Palisade, Colorado when exploring control options. • Chemical — Chemical control is the use of herbicides to control weed populations. This is the primary weed control method used by Williams. Williams annually contracts a Certified Commercial applicator to apply herbicides on lease acreage. Both bare ground and noxious weed applications occur throughout spring, summer, and fall. Williams encourages the use of spot spray application on lease land to ensure vegetation diversity components are maintained. Broadcast applications are only used if a weed infestation is extremely heavy and has created a monoculture in the infested area. The use of appropriate PPE, pesticide storage, pesticide handling, spray mixtures and application rates will occur on Williams lease acreage. Monitoring — Areas where noxious weed infestations are identified and treated will be inspected over time to ensure that control methods are working to reduce and suppress the identified infestation. The sites will be monitored until the infestations are eliminated or reduced to acceptable levels. These inspections will be used to prioritize future weed control efforts. Site Specific Weed Control Plans for the Industrial Support Facility The PA 41-9 well pad will receive an annual bare ground treatment on the graveled area, around the well heads, and around the production equipment to suppress weedy species growth. The graveled and non -graveled area surrounding the facility will be monitored annually for noxious weed species and they will be chemically treated at appropriate times if noxious weed species are present.