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the required minimum number of samples had been collected. This is allowed in the Vegetation <br />Guideline and as directed in consultation meetings with DRMS, sampling for production stopped <br />after 50 transects had been sampled. <br />Transect Locations <br />The field locations of all of the cover, production and shrub density transect sampled in this <br />evaluation are shown on Map 2.04.10-1. The specific details corresponding to each vegetation <br />community or reference area sampled is discussed in connection with the discussion pertaining <br />to each site. <br />MAJOR PREDISTURBANCE AREA VEGETATION TYPES <br />N111 RECLAMATION <br />This vegetation type is found in the southern most portion of the mine area and includes lands <br />disturbed by mining between about 1978 and 1993 when reclamation was completed. All of <br />these reclaimed lands were regraded to approximate original contour (AOC) and salvaged topsoil <br />was respread over the regarded spoil. This is the largest plant community <br />type found within the NHN permit area (Map 2.04.10-1) that will be disturbed by mining. This <br />area covers an area approximately 65.55 acres in size and accounts for nearly 20.35 percent of <br />the proposed permit area. <br />This area differs from the Reclaimed Spoil vegetation type described further below in this <br />section "Description of Minor Predisturbance Area Vegetation Types" in that topsoil was <br />salvaged and used in the reclamation of that area. All disturbance and reclamation that occurred <br />was bonded in accordance with Rule 3.02.14, whereas the Reclaimed Spoil areas were disturbed <br />prior to implementation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 (SMCRA). <br />The results obtained from the quantitative vegetation sampling of the plant cover, perennial <br />herbaceous forage production and shrub density are presented below. <br />Plant Cover <br />The results obtained from the sampling of the 25 plant cover transects on the NH Reclamation <br />Predisturbance Area are presented in Table 2.04.10-3. Total plant cover on this site averaged <br />27.96 percent and litter cover averaged 19.16 percent. <br />Seeded perennial grasses were the dominant plant life form encountered on this site, contributing <br />20.72 percent of the total plant cover and 74.11 percent of the total relative cover found on this <br />Section 2.04. 10 Page 13 of 36 June 2016 (TR -14) <br />