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1.3 Background, Success Standards, and Evaluation <br />Information regarding dates of reclamation earthwork activities and seeding dates should be provided <br />in other supporting documents. <br />The bond release success standards for reclaimed areas at the Bowie #1 Mine are based on vegetation <br />cover, annual herbaceous production, and woody plant density values of reclaimed areas compared with <br />the success criteria. For Phase II Bond Release, reclaimed areas must achieve at least 90% of the Total <br />Plant Cover Standard. Diversity, production and woody plant density success comparisons are applicable <br />only to Phase III Bond Release and thus are not discussed in this Phase II Bond Release evaluation. Noxious <br />weed cover may not count towards vegetation success standards. A determination regarding noxious weed <br />status is based on the Delta County noxious weed list. <br />Success criteria for Phase II Bond Release are as follows: <br />• For the West Mine Unit, Phase II Bond Release requirements state that Total Plant Cover must be <br />>_ 90% of the Total Plant Cover Standard of 60% (54 %). The Total Plant Cover may not include <br />noxious weeds, and annual and biennial species cover is limited (see discussion below). <br />• For the Run of Mine Unit, Phase II Bond Release requirements state that Total Plant Cover must <br />exceed 40 %. The Total Plant Cover may not include noxious weeds, and annual and biennial <br />species cover is limited (see discussion below). <br />Success criteria for Phase III Bond Release in the West Mine unit are as follows: <br />• Achieve a Total Plant Cover greater than or equal to 90% of 60 %. <br />• Achieve a woody plant density of 800 and 1,000 stems per acre. <br />• Achieve annual herbaceous production levels of >_ 90% of 450 pounds per acre (405). <br />• Achieve a species diversity of >_ 5 native, perennial herbaceous species (4 native cool season <br />grasses and one native forb) with between 3% and 60% relative cover. The five species combined <br />will not exceed 90% relative cover or production. <br />• Achieve a species diversity of >_ 2 native shrub species, not exceeding a relative cover value of >_ <br />80 %. <br />Success criteria for Phase III Bond Release in the Run of Mine (and East Mine) units are as follows: <br />• Achieve a Total Plant Cover greater than 40 %. <br />• Achieve a woody plant density of 800 and 1,000 stems per acre. <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, INC. Page 6 Bowie #1 Mine - 2013 <br />Phase II Bond Release Report <br />