2013-10-08_REVISION - C1982056 ‎(22)‎

• Permit No: C1982056
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 10/8/2013
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance
• From: DRMS
• To: Twentymile Coal, LLC
• Type & Sequence: RN6
• Email Name: JDM
• Email Name: DIH
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

XI. Revegetation

A.The Division has previously approved the use of introduced species in the
reclamation seed mix. Introduced species are included in cropland, pastureland,
and rangeland seed mixes. The applicant has submitted information which shows
that the introduced species are desirable and necessary to achieve the post-mining
land use, and are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2).

Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and
woody plant density are discussed beginning on pages 2.04-52 and 2.05-115 of the
application for all disturbed areas, with the exception of the Fish Creek Tipple
area. These techniques include:

1.Vegetative cover will be sampled using the point-intercept method on a 50-
meter transect line. “First hit” percent cover at every sample location will be
calculated for each species;

2.Herbaceous production samples will be taken at the same random sample
points used for cover sampling. Vegetation clipping will occur in one-square
meter quadrants, followed by drying at 105 degrees and weighing to the nearest
0.1 gram for productivity;

3.Species diversity success will be demonstrated with no single plant species
exceeding 60% relative cover and at least two of the following tests: 1) total
species density 2) assessment of the distribution of species density among life-
forms in comparison to the reference areas and 3) assessment of the presence
of native species;

4.Shrub density will be evaluated using a belt transect method with transects 2
meters X 50 meters in dimension and randomly oriented from the sample point
origin.

For the Fish Creek Tipple area, the methodologies will be:

1.Cover will be determined using fifty meter transects with ten points every five
meters for 100 “hits”;

2.Production will be determined from the clipping of three meter squared
quadrants placed randomly along the cover transect;

3. Woody stem density will be determined by counting rooted shrubs along a 2-
meter by 50-meter transect;

4.Diversity success will require two perennial grasses to exceed 5% composition
and one perennial forb to exceed 3% composition with no one species
exceeding 40% composition.

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Foidel Creek MineOctober 8, 2013