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Appendix 10 -9, contains the data, which were used in the comparability assessment for the II- <br />W affected and extended reference areas. <br />In similar fashion, the II -W South Extension Area will use the extended reference area (ERA) <br />approach to assess revegetation success for the cover and production performance standards. <br />However, for the South Extension Area, the applicable extended reference area will be those <br />portions of the South Extension Area permit area not to be affected by mining and sampled as <br />an ERA during baseline vegetation studies (see Tab 10). In other words, upland reclamation of <br />other areas will be judged either by the II -W ERA or by specific baseline datasets as detailed <br />elsewhere. Comparability of the II -W South Extension Area affected areas and the ERA for <br />each of the six vegetation types is assessed in Tab 10. <br />The extended reference area approach maximizes the use of extensive undisturbed lands within the <br />permit area for a more valid comparison of native vegetation to reclaimed lands. Mining of <br />recoverable coal seams is more or less centered in the southern and northern portions of the permit <br />area. Additional mine - related disturbances for facilities, haul roads, sediment ponds, topsoil <br />stockpiles, and all grading disturbance are located adjacent to these northern and southern areas. The <br />total maximum disturbance area is illustrated on Exhibit 22 -1. As can be seen from review of this <br />exhibit, considerable undisturbed areas will remain after mining - related disturbances. These <br />undisturbed areas represent similar ranges of soils, elevations, aspects, slopes, and phases of the <br />representative vegetation communities in the affected areas. All premine vegetation <br />communities are represented in these undisturbed areas (overlay Exhibit 10 -1 with 22 -1). The <br />extent of these undisturbed vegetation communities and the close proximity to the reclaimed <br />areas provide the best comparison to premine site and vegetation conditions possible. SCC has <br />surface control of all lands to be included in the extended reference area. This will allow SCC <br />to manage the reference areas in accordance with the approved postmining land use. It will <br />also facilitate similar management for both the reference and revegetated areas for any bond <br />release evaluations during the last two years of the liability period. <br />The following details the criteria for comparisons to be made between reference area information and <br />revegetation communities to be returned on the postmining landscape. These criteria reflect <br />reclamation experience and revegetation monitoring data from the Seneca II -W Mine from 1995 to <br />2003. The criteria attempt to provide realistic and achievable standards that ensure erosional stability <br />of the landscape, provide adequate productivity for the postmining land use, and establish vegetative <br />• composition and successional potential sufficient to ensure continued plant community development. <br />TR -65 44 Revised 9/09 <br />