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Peabody Sage Creek Mine <br />SL -3 Phase III Bond Release Request <br />July 2014 <br />diversity requirements are assessed through the vegetation cover data and evaluations using a <br />species diversity assessment included in Exhibit 2.05.4-El of the PSCM permit. <br />Revegetation Success <br />Vegetation sampling in the Phase III bond release block (referred to as BRB PSCM -1 in the <br />revegetation success evaluation report contained in Attachment D and below) and the PSCM <br />reference areas was conducted in July /August 2010 and 2011 by ESCO Associates. The <br />2010/2011 revegetation success evaluation report for the PSCM Phase III bond release <br />evaluation is included as Attachment — Revegetation Success Supporting Documentation. <br />The Phase III bond release block, reference areas and random sample point locations are <br />included on Maps 1 - 4 contained in the 2010/2011 revegetation success evaluation report. <br />Successful revegetation for the parameters of cover, herbaceous production, woody plant <br />density (background and concentration areas) and species diversity was demonstrated in <br />both 2010 and 2011 vegetation sampling. The results of those demonstrations are <br />summarized in the following sections. <br />Cover. The PSCM cover standard and evaluation for success is as follows. The cover success <br />standard is based on a weight averaged value (based on the two primary premme vegetation type <br />contributions to total acreage) for first hit adjusted herbaceous cover derived from sampling in <br />the approved PSCM sagebrush and mountain brush reference areas. The weighting contribution <br />is mountain brush 83% and sagebrush 17 %. First hit adjusted herbaceous cover is determined <br />from cover sampling in the Phase III reclaimed lands and the two native reference areas with <br />adjustments made for woody plants, noxious weeds and no more than 10% relative cover of <br />annual /biennial weeds. The allowable first hit herbaceous cover standard is determined by weight <br />averaging the values based on the percent contribution of the mountain brush and sagebrush <br />types. This basis value is multiplied by two (2) to arrive at the cover success standard The Phase III bond <br />release area sample value will be no less than 90% of the cover success standard at 90% statistical confidence. In <br />both the reference area derived standard and the Phase III reclaimed area, the adjusted <br />herbaceous cover is herein referred to as the allowable herbaceous cover. The derivation of the <br />first hit allowable herbaceous cover for the Phase III bond release block and reference areas is <br />C <br />