2016-10-03_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A (2)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS modify practices and the plant materials used to assist efforts to establish this habitat type in the future. The standard interim revegetation monitoring techniques and practicesapplied to the other reclamation areas at Colowyo will be utilized annually to measure progress of the trials. All data will be captured, collated and presented as part of the Annual Reclamation Report provided to DRMS. 4.15.7 Determining Revegetation Success: General Requirements and Standards During the summer of 2005, reference areas were selected to represent vegetative communities in the Collom mining area. The locations of these reference areas are shown on the Vegetation map (Map 4C — Sheet 1). Extensive, detailed vegetative sampling was performed, duplicating the methodologies as described in Section 2.04.10. The reference areas were sampled for herbaceous cover, herbaceous production and woody plant density. Species diversity was determined utilizing herbaceous cover data from the premining inventory. The reference areas vary in size between 27.7 and 79.5 acres (Table 2.04.10-33) Statistical tests were performed on the vegetative data from the reference areas to prove that they were comparable to the premined area. The parameters compared were herbaceous cover and herbaceous production. Sample size adequacy tests were performed on both the premine and reference area data to insure that representative cover and production data had been obtained at the 90% level of confidence. Where necessary, the mean, variance and number of observations for the premine and reference area data were used to perform t-tests on the cover and production data to insure that there were no significant differences, at the 90% level of confidence, between the sets of cover data and production data. A copy of the transect data summaries for cover, production and woody plant density can be found in Exhibit 10, Item 6. Currently the reference areas are located in an area where grazing can be managed in accordance with the approved postmining land use. Comparisons of weighted averages between reference areas and revegetated areas under Subsection 4.15.7(4) (b) and Subsection 4.15.11 may be utilized to determine revegetation success. Similar methodologies and statistical tests used to compare premine and reference areas will be used to compare reference areas and revegetated areas. For weighted comparisons of Collom area revegetation, reclaimed area data will be compared against 39% of the Mountain Shrub Reference Area, 47% of the Sagebrush Reference Area, and 14% of the Grassland Reference Area data. For demonstration of revegetation success, vegetation cover, herbaceous production, and in certain circumstances woody plant density will be sampled to statistical adequacy (where necessary), and compared to the approved standard or reference area mean. The Division has completed a comprehensive bond release guideline (1995) that provides a good overview of recommended sampling approaches, statistical adequacy formulas and statistical tests. Furthermore, new regulations promulgated 9/14/05 under Section 4.15.11 detail new allowable approaches for vegetation sampling and testing. Colowyo will utilize procedures recommended in the new regulations, guideline, or other procedures that are as effective as the Division's recommendations. Before Colowyo begins a vegetation sampling program for bond release, the Division will be consulted to confirm sampling approaches and statistical testing. A base level or initial protocol is detailed under Section 4.15.11 below. Collom—Rule 4, Page 20 Revision Date: 4/18/16 Revision No.: PR -04