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Likewise, relative to the requirement for at least 150 stems per acre of tall shrubs and trees, the <br />mean of 223 far exceeds that standard and the lower 90% confidence limit of stems per acre also <br />leaves no doubt that this standard was achieved. <br />Historical monitoring of the Yoast reclaimed areas has shown steady increases in shrub density <br />as successional processes proceed. These increases have tended to be for mountain big <br />sagebrush and snowberry since the site characteristics and plant growth substrates resulting from <br />reclamation of mined lands in this area tend to be most similar to those for sagebrush shrubland. <br />Landscape level visuals now show large areas of sagebrush shrubland interspersed in the <br />reclaimed lands as is confirmed by 2015 unfenced concentration area data (see Supplemental <br />Table E, Attachment E). <br />Successful revegetation for the parameter of background woody plant density was <br />demonstrated in both 2012 and 2014. Successful revegetation of fenced woody plant <br />concentration areas (Standard SI) was suggested in sampling in 2012 and 2014 and <br />statistically confirmed in 2015. Successful revegetation of unfenced woody plant <br />concentration areas (Standard P2) was suggested in planted area sampling in 2012 and 2014 <br />and statistically confirmed in planted and unplanted areas comprising 20% of BRB-I in 2015. <br />2015 sampling showed levels of woody plant establishment that far exceeded the applicable <br />standards (3 to 5 times the standard). <br />SPECIES DIVERSITY <br />Successful revegetation for species diversity is evaluated through a series of tests, one of which <br />is a mandatory test and three are alternative tests. At least two of the alternative tests must be <br />met. The mandatory test (Test A) is based on the cover sampling data and requires that no single t <br />plant exceeds 60 percent relative cover. Alternative test B (or Alternative Test 1) is a <br />comparison for total species density between the reference and reclaimed areas. Alternative Test <br />C (or Alternative Test 2) is an assessment of the distribution of species abundance among <br />lifeforms in the reclaimed areas compared to the reference. Alternative Test D (or Alternative <br />Test 3) is an assessment of the presence of native species in the reclaimed areas compared to the <br />reference areas. Details of the means for evaluating success with supporting information on <br />calculation methods is detailed in the text and appendix tables of the 2012/2014 vegetation <br />SL -6 - 24 <br />