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There is no required standard for woody plant density establishment for the West Elk Mine, although <br />MCC includes woody species in the seed mix, and woody species were encountered in the sampling <br />efforts. <br />The species composition standard requires the establishment of three perennial species, each <br />contributing greater than 3% relative cover, but no one species exceeding 40% relative cover. Two <br />of the species shall be a cool season perennial grass, and one shall be a cool season perennial forb. <br />Noxious species will count towards success vegetation establishment. The species may be native or <br />introduced. <br />The 2014 sampling determined that seven species met the criteria for species composition success. <br />Of the seven qualifying species, four were cool season grasses and three were cool season forbs. <br />None of these species were considered noxious or toxic. The 2015 sampling found six species that <br />met the species composition standard. Of the six species, four were cool season grasses and two <br />were cool season forbs. None of these qualifying species were considered noxious or toxic. <br />The Division finds that MCC met or exceed the reclamation success standards for cover, <br />productivity and species composition for 2014 and 2015 for the SL9 bond release block. <br />