2017-01-04_PERMIT FILE - C1981044 (2)

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1111111111IMN Doc Date:i 2111 !2001 999 4.4 RANGELAND The reestablishment of rangelands on disturbed lands at Trapper Mine is a primary objective of revegetation efforts at Trapper Mine. The revegetation plan for rangelands, Section 3.6.3 details methods and procedures by which the above goal will be achieved. Methods of determining whether successful rangeland reestablishment has been obtained are discussed in this section along with field techniques and methods of data reduction. Ail lands within Trapper Mine's proposed permit area are considered to be shrublands (refer to Section 2.3). 5/ /V 4.4.1 Conceptual Plan for Testing Reyesietation Success Trapper Mine's plan for testing revegetation success originally relied on the theory of reference areas to compare with reclaimed sites. While intuitively this concept would appear to accommodate year to year variations and vegetation trends over time, it has not yet been proven that biotic and abiotic influences will be similar enough for any two separate areas to behave the same way and maintain the same relationship over time. Confirmation of the theory is considered a prerequisite to- using it for testing revegetation success. Presently, that theory has not been confirmed. Thus, the methods proposed for testing revegetation success are not based on reference areas. Trapper Mine, however, reserves the right to revisit the proposed methods at a future time if circumstances so dictate. Success will be judged on the basis of three parameters and their interpretation. These are: 1) canopy cover of herbaceous species and litter, 2) total standing biomass of herbaceous species, and 3) a woody stem density of 400 stems/acre. Where the planned primary post -mining land uses are both grazing of domestic livestock and habitat for important wildlife species (range sites A and B), all three parameters will be used to judge success. For range site C, only the first two standards, canopy cover and standing biomass of herbaceous species, will be applied. Diversity of reclaimed areas will be evaluated from cover data expressed as composition. 4.4.1.1 Herbaceous Cover Standards The required standards, cover and production, are complementary evaluations of a reclaimed area. A production standard provides the regulatory authority assurance that a parcel of reclaimed land is capable of supporting the intended postmine land use. In our case, these uses are grazing and wildlife habitat. The cover standard functions as a protection to the soil resource. It insures that sufficient topsoil is maintained to promote some level of plant production on reclaimed lands. The cover standard should be such that it promotes a reasonably stable landscape. Moreover, on the average, soil building processes should exceed soil degradation or loss. 0 4-101 Revision: r4 - 4 Approved:Z/�8' 72