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associated with the groundwater wells. All sites requiring repair, as noted by the Division, were repaired <br />adequately with no further problems noted. <br />Rmetation Success <br />All areas requested for Phase III bond release per SL -06 have previously received Phase I and II bond <br />release. Previous Phase I and II bond releases for the requested bond release blocks were approved <br />with SL -01, SL -03, SL -04, and SL -05. Reclamation parcels were reclaimed between 1989 and 2012. <br />Vegetation sampling was conducted during 2011 and 2012. All parcels have met the minimum <br />liability period as required by rule 3.02.3(2)(b). The approved post- mining land use is livestock <br />grazing and wildlife habitat. <br />SCC has implemented an annual grazing plan on reclaimed lands at Seneca II Mine since 1987. <br />SCC's grazing plan takes into account the available forage biomass. SCC stocks livestock at an <br />appropriate capacity to leave no less than 50% of the available forage biomass. Grazing was <br />conducted annually between mid -July through mid - September. <br />The vegetation success standards for the Seneca II Mine are found in Appendix 13 -13 of the permit. <br />SCC uses a weighted average approach utilizing two reference areas representing a sagebrush <br />community and a mountain brush community. <br />Cover <br />Reclamation success for vegetative cover requires a summation of the weighted average vegetative <br />cover of the two reference areas, multiplied by a factor of two. The allowable vegetative cover of the <br />reclaimed Bond Release Block (BRB) shall equal or exceed 90% of this calculated value. Weighted <br />values of the two reference areas are based on the percentage of the pre - disturbance acreage <br />composed of each vegetation community. The mean allowable vegetative cover of the Sagebrush <br />reference area is multiplied by 17 %, while the mean allowable vegetative cover of the Mountain <br />Brush reference area is multiplied by 83 %. These two values are added together and then multiplied <br />by a factor of two. Due to a high variance in the vegetation sampling results, SCC was unable to <br />achieve sample adequacy for the 2012 productivity sampling of the sagebrush reference area. <br />However, an excess of 30 transects were collected, allowing for application of Rule 4.15.11(2)(c). <br />A variance in precipitation available for vegetative growth between sample years 2011 and 2012 <br />generated a marked difference in sample results. Sample results from the reference areas reflect this <br />variance as well. <br />Sample adequacy was achieved for vegetative cover for the 2011 sampling of both the Sagebrush and <br />Mountain Brush reference areas. Sample adequacy was achieved for Bond Release Block No. 5 <br />(BRB -5) in 2011 for vegetative cover. Sample adequacy was achieved for vegetative cover for the <br />2012 sampling of both the Sagebrush and Mountain Brush reference areas. Sample adequacy was <br />achieved for BRB -5 in 2012 for vegetative cover. <br />Allowable vegetative cover measured in BRB -5 in 2011 was 59.7 %. The weighted and factored <br />vegetative cover value for the 2011 Sagebrush and Mountain Brush reference areas was calculated as <br />