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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS <br />The seed mixtures in Volume 15, Table's 2.05-7 and 2.05-9 contain the desired species to achieve the <br />goal of species diversity in the postmining area as applicability to future reclamation activities in the <br />Collom mining area were a consideration when they were developed. These mixtures contain grasses, <br />forbs and shrubs capable of establishing vegetative communities that are capable of supporting the desired <br />postmining land use. The existing seed mixes are also appropriate based on nearly identical elevation, <br />precipitation, soils, vegetation community structure and function, and pre -mine land use characteristics as <br />were observed in the existing operation. <br />4.15.9 Cropland Revegetation Success <br />Colowyo does not plan to return any of the mined area for use as cropland; therefore, the requirements of <br />this Subsection are not applicable to Colowyo. <br />4.15.10 Previously Mined Land Revegetation Success Criteria <br />Revegetation success criteria established in 4.15.8 shall be used across the entire Collom Lite and Little <br />Collom X pits. <br />4.15.11 Revegetation Sampling Methods and Statistical Demonstrations for Revegetation Success <br />Revegetation Community Mapping / Stratification <br />Unless new, CDRMS approved, and superior monitoring and sampling metrics are developed, the <br />following metrics will be implemented at Colowyo to document revegetation progress and success. <br />During monitoring of revegetated units, developing shrub patches will be identified and as necessary <br />delineated (circumnavigated with a sub -meter GPS unit to document boundaries) to facilitate mapping <br />that in turn will represent the juxtaposition (stratification) of developing communities. As indicated <br />previously, delineated shrub patches will be classified as either "core" areas or "ecotonal" areas <br />depending on apparent density of developing shrub populations. Such stratification is necessary as <br />success criteria associated with areas of wildlife habitat will be applicable to shrub -dominated <br />communities as opposed to grassland success criteria applicable to remaining revegetation efforts <br />targeting livestock grazing land uses (with wildlife habitat benefits). <br />Sample Layout <br />The sample layout protocol for revegetation monitoring and bond release evaluations shall be a systematic <br />procedure designed to better account for the heterogeneous expression of seedings within reclaimed areas <br />while precluding bias in the sample site selection process. By design, the procedure is initiated randomly, <br />and thereafter, samples are located in a systematic manner, along grid coordinates spaced at fixed <br />distances, e.g. 200 ft. In this manner, "representation" from across the target reclamation unit is "forced" <br />rather than risking the chance that significant pockets are entirely missed, or overemphasized as often <br />occurs with simple random sampling. <br />Older reclaimed units (e.g., 7+ years) shall receive a minimum of 20 ground cover transects and in <br />monitoring areas — co -located shrub density belts. Production for monitoring purposes shall be collected <br />from a representative five of these 20 sample points. For bond release efforts, production will be <br />collected from a statistically adequate sample as defined below. Monitoring efforts for younger reclaimed <br />units (e.g., 2 to 4 years) shall receive 15 transects and co -located woody density belts (as necessary) but <br />no production sampling. First year units will receive one cluster of five emergent density quadrats spread <br />in a representative manner for approximately every two acres of reclamation. For units 50 acres or larger, <br />a five -quadrat cluster should be collected from every 4 acres of reclamation. With regard to any two-year <br />Collom — Rule 4, Page 44 Revision Date: 9/28/11 <br />Revision No.: PR -03 <br />