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approved postmining land use for the area to be mined: <br />(f) During any year when vegetation sampling related to a bond release application is <br />conducted by the permitted, the reference area(s) and revegetated area(s) shall <br />receive the same management. <br />(4) The primary methods by which reference areas may be utilized, upon approval of the <br />Division, to determine revegetation success are: <br />(a) For reference areas as described in 4.15.7(3)(a) ... comparison of an individual <br />reference area representative of a certain plant community which is existing on <br />the pre- mining surface with the corresponding plant community planted on the <br />revegetated surface. <br />(c) For reference areas as described in 4.15.7(3)(b)(ii) and (iii), comparison of an <br />individual reference area representative of a specified ecological site based on <br />soil, elevation and topographic characteristics with a corresponding site on the <br />revegetated surface." <br />According to the CDRMS's Guidelines for Compliance with Land Use and Vegetation <br />Requirements issued in October 1988, the following conditions are associated with reference <br />areas. <br />"Reference Areas: An area of at least 3 acres which will not be disturbed by mining and <br />which is used in a direct comparison with reclaimed areas. As described in the <br />regulations, reference areas shall be selected to be representative of each plant <br />community within the area to be disturbed, unless otherwise approved by the Division. <br />To ensure that selected reference areas standards are appropriate and attainable, the <br />reference area should to be extent possible, be representative of the dominant pre- mining <br />and post- mining soil conditions, slope and dominant aspect, and elevation. Additionally, <br />in the `standard' or pre -mine community reference area approach, the dominant species <br />in the reference and affected areas must be the same and cover and production must be <br />demonstrated to be statistically comparable in the reference and affected area." <br />A detailed description of the pre - disturbance soils conditions associated with the Loadout Area is <br />found in the Southfield Mine Permit Section 2.04.9 SOILS RESOURCE INFORMATION. A <br />map of these pre - disturbance soils is found on Permit Map 15, Loadout Area Soils. According to <br />these sources, there were four pre - disturbance soils mapping units found on this site. Soils <br />Mapping Unit 16 - Cascajo very gravelly sandy loam, 10 to 40 percent slopes; Soils Mapping <br />Unit 52 - Kim - Cascajo complex 2 to 15 percent slopes; Soils Mapping Unit 72 - Midway - <br />Cascajo complex 10 to 40 percent slopes; and, Soils Mapping Unit 105 - Shanta loam dry, 0 to 3 <br />percent slopes. <br />Upon superimposing the 2013 Loadout Area Reclamation Area, which was GPSed and sampled <br />in August of 2013 for Phase III Final Bond Release, with the Southfield Mine Loadout Permit <br />