Laserfiche WebLink
Basin evaluated the economics of conducting a research plan versus placing 4 feet of non -toxic material over <br />the coal processing waste. The Applicant chose to not conduct research. The applicant placed 4 feet of non- <br />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 the <br />management unit. Evaluation of seeded areas shall occur in Year 4 and two years prior to final bond release. <br />The results of any revegetation success evaluations will be submitted to the Division with the Annual <br />Reclamation Report for the year. <br />Vegetative cover and diversity will be sampled using 25 -meter long point- intercept transects. The reclaimed <br />area and the reference area will be sampled separately. Sampling transect locations for both reclaimed areas <br />and reference areas, will be provided in the Vegetation Report. <br />Ten transects will initially be conducted in each area. Sample size will be 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 density <br />sampling will utilize one of the following formulas. The following formulas will be used for reference and <br />reclaimed area sampling when hypothesis testing is not required. <br />(1) Nm = t2S2 /(dX)2 <br />Where: Nm = Minimum number of samples required <br />s2 = Sample variance <br />d = Precision (.10) x = Sample mean <br />t = The (a =0.10) t -table value for a single tailed West with (n -1) degrees of freedom <br />Should the parameter sample mean for the reclaimed area be less than 90 percent of the success standard, <br />the following hypothesis testing formula will be utilized to demonstrate the difference is not statistically <br />significant. <br />(1 a) 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 /no.so) 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 90% <br />of the standard, and can be stated as Ho: u >_ Q <br />2.05 -21 w 85, Mbho 1+ <br />