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The four dominant plant species measured on the reclaimed areas in 2013 reported as relative cover <br />were 63.8 percent on the RDA, 74.5 percent on the Corley property at the portal area, 63.8 percent on <br />the Vento property at the portal area, and 79.6 percent at the loadout. All values for the combined <br />relative cover of the top four dominant plant species were less than 80 percent in 2013. The Division <br />finds this parameter was successful in 2013. <br />The four dominant plant species measured on the reclaimed areas in 2014 reported as relative cover <br />were 72.1 percent on the RDA, 72.17 percent on the Corley property at the portal area, 63.8 percent <br />on the Vento property at the portal area, and 7 1. 1 percent at the loadout. All values for the combined <br />relative cover of the top four dominant plant species were less than 80 percent in 2014. The Division <br />finds this parameter was successful in 2014. <br />The warm season grass diversity index for 2013 was 2.13 as calculated from the combined reference <br />areas. The warm season grass diversity index calculated from the combined reclaimed areas was 2.98 <br />for 2013. The Division finds this portion of the diversity standard for 2013 successful. <br />The warm season grass diversity index for 2014 was 2.24 as calculated from the combined reference <br />areas. The warm season grass diversity index calculated from the combined reclaimed areas was 3.27 <br />for 2014. The Division finds this parameter of the diversity standard for 2014 successful. <br />The woody plant success standard is different for different areas of the mine. At the request of the <br />landowner there is no requirement to establish woody plants on the Corley property at the reclaimed <br />portal area. The woody plant density on the reclaimed RDA needs to meet a minimum of 225 stems <br />per acre (90 percent of 250). The woody stem value on the RDA was 639.3 stems per acre in 2013, <br />and 300.2 stems per acre in 2014. <br />The minimum woody stem density required on the Vento reclaimed portal area equals 720 stems per <br />acre (90 percent of 800). Woody stem density on the Vento reclaimed area was 1025 stems per acre <br />in 2013, and 932.3 stems per acre in 2014. <br />Successful establishment of shrubs at the loadout entails establishing a minimum of 6.3 stems per <br />acre. In 2013, 512.6 woody stems per acre were sampled on the reclaimed loadout. In 2014, EFCI <br />sampled 533.0 woody stems per acre on the loadout. All reclaimed areas requiring woody plant <br />establishment exceeded the applicable success standard. <br />PROTECTION OF THE HYDROLOGIC BALANCE <br />Regarding the SL -03 areas, an assessment of the impacts to the hydrologic balance of the permit and <br />adjacent area was performed for surface water. For the review of this bond release application, which <br />does not entail a reduction in the affected area or permit area boundary, impacts on groundwater were <br />not assessed. Groundwater will be addressed in future bond release applications. <br />The data in past AHRs and DMRs shows that mining and reclamation activities within the SL -03 area <br />Southfield Mine SL -03 Page 20 of 21 February 23, 2016 <br />