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reference area. PSCM collected a minimum of 15 transects within the mountain brush reference area <br />in 2010 and 2011. <br />Allowable vegetative cover measured on the BRB in 2010 was 54.9 %. The weighted and factored <br />vegetative cover value for the 2010 Sagebrush and Mountain Brush reference areas was calculated as <br />32.8 percent. Vegetative cover on the reclaimed bond release block was successful for 2010. <br />Allowable vegetative cover measured on the BRB in 2011 was 55.8 %. The weighted and factored <br />vegetative cover value for the 2011 Sagebrush and Mountain Brush reference areas was calculated as <br />45.11 percent. Vegetative cover on the reclaimed bond release block was successful for 2011. <br />Productivity <br />Reclamation productivity success will be considered successful when annual herbaceous production <br />on the BRB is 90 percent or greater than the annual herbaceous production measured on the two <br />reference areas. Similar to the determination of reclamation success for allowable vegetative cover, <br />PSCM utilizes a weighted average of annual allowable herbaceous production for determination of <br />productivity success. Weighted values of the two reference areas are based on the percentage of the <br />pre- disturbance acreage composed of each vegetation community. The mean weighted allowable <br />herbaceous production of the Sagebrush reference area is multiplied by 17 %, while the mountain <br />brush reference area is multiplied by 83 %. These two values are added together to determine the <br />annual herbaceous production standard. <br />Sample adequacy was not achieved for annual herbaceous production for the 2010 and 2011 <br />sampling of the BRB, Mountain Brush reference area, and 2010 sampling of the Sagebrush reference <br />area. Sample adequacy was achieved for the 2011 total herbaceous production of the Sagebrush <br />reference area. PSCM collected a minimum of 30 quadrats on each of the respective sampling areas <br />in 2010 and 2011. PSCM excluded noxious weed species and annual /biennial grass and forb species <br />in excess of 10% relative cover from the total annual herbaceous production to determine the annual <br />allowable herbaceous production value. This calculation is in agreement with the approved permit. <br />Allowable annual herbaceous production for the 2010 BRB was 1973.5 pounds /acre. Allowable <br />annual 2010 herbaceous production for the Mountain Brush reference area was 483.6 pounds /acre <br />and 874.3 pounds /acre for the Sagebrush reference area. Calculation of weighted average standard <br />for 2010 equals 495.2 pounds /acre. Allowable annual herbaceous production on the reclaimed BRB <br />exceeded the reference area standard almost four -fold. The allowable annual herbaceous production <br />for the BRB was successful for 2010. Although sample adequacy was not achieved on the BRB in <br />2010, the reverse null calculation also confirms that the BRB allowable annual herbaceous <br />production was successful for 2010. <br />Allowable annual herbaceous production for the 2011 BRB was 2815.8 pounds /acre. Allowable <br />annual 2011 herbaceous production for the Mountain Brush reference area was 835.1 pounds /acre <br />and 1234.8 pounds /acre for the Sagebrush reference area. Calculation of weighted average standard <br />for 2011 equals 812.73 pounds /acre. Allowable annual herbaceous production on the reclaimed BRB <br />exceeded the reference area standard more than three -fold. The allowable annual herbaceous <br />