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2014 Productivity: Herbaceous production: 1797.04 lbs/acre <br />Herbaceous production standard (90%): 452.51 lbs/acre <br />The 2014 sample data for the Section 16 Pit successfully exceeds 90% of the <br />herbaceous productivity standard. <br />2013 Diversity: Five perennial grasses were sampled between 3% and 50% relative cover <br />and a perennial forb composition of 2.76% in relative cover. This exceeds <br />the requirement for a minimum of at least two perennial grasses between 3% <br />and 50% relative cover, and all forbs combined with between 1% and 30% <br />relative cover. The 2013 sample data for the Section 16 Pit successfully <br />exceeds reclamation success diversity standards. <br />2014 Diversity: Five perennial grasses were sampled between 3% and 50% relative cover <br />and a perennial forb composition of 1.99% in relative cover. This exceeds <br />the requirement for a minimum of at least two perennial grasses between 3% <br />and 50% relative cover, and all forbs combined with between 1% and 30% <br />relative cover. The 2014 sample data for the Section 16 Pit successfully <br />exceeds reclamation success diversity standards. <br />2013 Woody Plant Density: Six shrub patches were sampled that occupied 41.8 acres of the 182.5 <br />acres (22.9%) and resulted in an average of 1,039 woody plants per <br />acre. The 2013 sample data for the Section 16 Pit successfully <br />exceeds 150 woody plants per acre as required by Section 4.15.8 in <br />Coloyo's PAP. <br />2014 Woody Plant Density: Six shrub patches were sampled that occupied 41.8 acres of the 182.5 <br />acres (22.9%) and resulted in an average of 534.7 woody plants per <br />acre. The 2014 sample data for the Section 16 Pit successfully <br />exceeds 150 woody plants per acre as required by Section 4.15.8 in <br />Coloyo's PAP. <br />Based on the 2013 and 2014 Section 16 Pit vegetation sampling results, the Division finds that <br />Colowyo has achieved adequate cover, productivity and diversity on the SL -12 reclamation parcels. <br />Pos t -mining Land Us e <br />The post -mining land use at the Colowyo mine is rangeland and wildlife habitat. The Phase III <br />Bond Release areas of the Section 16 Pit were walked during the inspection and no problems were <br />observed. While Colowyo has not used the reclaimed lands for domestic livestock grazing, there is a <br />large resident elk herd that uses the reclaimed lands extensively. There are also several smaller <br />herds of deer and pronghorn that use the reclaimed Section 16 Pit. The wildlife use includes grazing <br />(including winter grazing) and calving areas. <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance December 2017 <br />Partial Phase I1 and III Bond Release SL -12 Page 9 <br />