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• vegetation type, while the refuse disposal site and coal loadout <br />facilities will disturb the Grassland vegetation type. The following <br />reference areas were established as representative of the disturbances <br />within the mine and loadout areas: <br />o Refuse site reference area (Plot "A") <br />o Mine portal reference area (Plot "B") <br />o Coal loadout reference area <br />Because all of these areas had been disturbed prior to the initial <br />vegetation work conducted at the site, reference areas were selected based <br />upon visual similarities and proximity to the disturbed sites. <br />Accordingly, no comparison was possible to determine pre-mine and <br />reference area vegetation data for statistical similarity. However, <br />baseline data collected from these sites along with similar data collected <br />during revegetation success monitoring as described under Rule 4.15.7 will <br />• be utilized for statistical comparison in evaluating revegetation success. <br />Following is a brief description of each of the established reference <br />areas. <br />Refuse Site Reference Area. An area located immediately north of and <br />adjacent to the existing refuse disposal site was selected as the <br />reference area for revegetation success monitoring. As shown on the Mine <br />Area Vegetation Map, (Map 16) it is located in the Grassland vegetation <br />type. It was chosen because there was little evidence of previous <br />disturbance and the elevation, topography, slope and vegetation are <br />similar to pre-disturbance conditions in the refuse area. Total average <br />basal cover at the time sampling was performed was 19.1 percent and was <br />dominated by grasses which accounted for 12.53 percent of the basal cover. <br />Sample adequacy was calculated to be 20 samples and a total of 46 samples <br />were collected. Exhibit 11, Vegetation Inventory, presents detailed <br />information regarding the refuse site reference area. <br />• Mine Portal Reference Area. As shown on the Mine Area Vegetation Map, <br />(Map 16), a reference area west of and adjacent to the mine portals was <br />established during 1980 for use in evaluating revegetation success. This <br />area was selected based upon its similarity to the portal area. Located <br />2.04.10-4 <br />