Laserfiche WebLink
Basin evaluated the economics of conducting a research plan versus placing 4 feet of non -toxic material <br />over the coal processing waste. The Applicant chose to not conduct research. The applicant placed 4 <br />feet of non -toxic material including topsoil, on the processing waste bank. <br />Species diversity and visual cover estimates of interim reclamation activities which occur prior to final <br />reclamation were monitored in the third growing season following seeding. This sampling will not achieve <br />statistical adequacy. Evaluation of vegetation success shall begin following the year of initial seeding of <br />the management unit. Evaluation of seeded areas shall occur in Year 4 and two years prior to final bond <br />release. The results of any revegetation success evaluations will be submitted to the Division with the <br />Annual Reclamation Report for the year. <br />Vegetative cover and diversity will be sampled using 25 -meter long point- intercept transects. The <br />reclaimed area and the reference area will be sampled separately. Sampling transect locations for both <br />reclaimed areas and reference areas, will be provided in the Vegetation Report. <br />Ten transects will initially be conducted in each area. Sample size will determined as sufficient using the <br />following adequacy formulas or when 50 transects have been sampled. <br />Sample adequacy calculations for reference and reclaimed area cover, production and woody plant <br />density sampling will utilize one of the following formulas. The following formulas will be used for <br />reference and reclaimed area sampling when hypothesis testing is not required. <br />(1) Nm = t2s2 /(dX)z <br />Where: Nm = Minimum number of samples required <br />S2 = Sample variance <br />d = Precision (.10) <br />x = Sample mean <br />t = The (a =0.10) t -table value for a single tailed t -test with (n -1) degrees of freedom <br />Should the parameter sample mean for the reclaimed area be less than 90 percent of the success <br />standard, the following hypothesis testing formula will be utilized to demonstrate the difference is not <br />statistically significant. <br />(1a) t, _ (Q — X) /sX <br />Where: Q = 90% of the standard <br />X = Bond release sample block mean <br />SX = Standard error of the mean (s /n050 ) and s = Sample standard deviation <br />n = Sample size <br />tc = Calculated t value <br />Where the null hypothesis being tested is that the bond release block mean (u) is greater than or equal to <br />90% of the standard, and can be stated as Ho: u >_ Q <br />TR -57 2.05 -21 Revised 2/18/2013 <br />