2015-12-21_PERMIT FILE - C1981041

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Species Diversity The Operator evaluated the species diversity success standard during 2001. The evaluation, presented in Appendix 14 -7, also recommends a remedial revegetation treatment for CRDA -2. In accordance with the evaluation, remedial revegetation treatments were implemented, during November 2001, to the south and west facing slopes of CRDA -2. The remedial revegetation treatment failed to achieve any noticeable results. The Operator had Cedar Creek re- evaluate the species diversity success standard again during 2010 following multiple remediation attempts to combat cheatgrass invasion of reclaimed areas. This evaluation is presented in Appendix 14 -11. The following species diversity standard is based on these vegetation evaluations: - Achieve total perennial cool- season grass species' relative cover of > 0.5% with at least two species present in the reclamation (observed). - Achieve total perennial warm - season grass species' relative cover of >_ 0.5% with at least two species present in the reclamation (observed). - Achieve total perennial forb and suffrutescent (sub- shrub) species' relative cover of >_ 0.5% with at least two species present in the reclamation (observed). - No reclaimed area shall have a single species that represents greater than 70% relative cover, with the exception of annual grasses. The annual grass component shall not exceed 70% relative cover unless the annual grass component in the corresponding reference area also exceeds 70 %. In such instances, the relative cover of the annual grass component of the reclaimed area shall not exceed the relative cover of the annual grass component in the reference area by more than 5 %. Revegetation Success Reference Areas The baseline vegetation study performed in 1982 and included in Appendix 10 -1, Tab Section 10, established 3 reference areas. These areas included a west facing hillside above and west of the south portal designated as a Shadscale reference area, a drainage bottom designated, as a Greasewood reference area and a southwest facing hillside and drainage bottom designated as a Greasewood /Shadscale reference area. During construction of CRDA 2, a major portion of the Greasewood /Shadscale reference area was disturbed and is no longer available for comparison purposes. The Greasewood reference area located on the drainage bottom west of the overland conveyor and south of the Xcel plant was abandoned in favor of the new reference area described below. The new reference area was established during 1999 which represents the Greasewood vegetation type. This reference area is located approximately 1,500 feet northwest of the Cameo Refuse Disposal Area No. 1 along the east - facing colluvial toe slope adjacent to the BLM Bookcliffs access road and the ephemeral drainage, see Exhibit 61. TR -60 14 -24 (Rev. 01/11)