2020-03-31_PERMIT FILE - C1981019A

Home Browse Search

RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS Rule 4 Performance Standards 4-49 Revision Date: 2/13/20 Revision No.: TR-135 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, Vegetation Information. During the summer of 1980, when the reference areas were chosen, the final mine plan had not been completed and, the sagebrush reference area was inadvertently located within the area to be mined. Since the reference area is to remain undisturbed during the life of the mining- operation to insure that reclamation success criteria can be measured after final reclamation, another suitable sagebrush reference area was chosen. Since the initial sagebrush reference area had been shown to be statistically comparable to the premine sagebrush community, Colowyo located another sagebrush reference area which was statistically comparable to the existing reference area. This new (1981) reference area was intensively sampled for herbaceous cover and production, using the same sampling methodologies and statistical tests that were used to compare the present reference area to the premine area. On August 21, 1981 Colowyo submitted revised vegetative data summarizing the results of the selection of an alternative sagebrush reference area. Both the new (1981) sagebrush reference area and old sagebrush reference area were intensively sampled for herbaceous cover and production using the same methodologies and statistical tests as used on all previous vegetative sampling programs with the following two exceptions. For the purpose of sample adequacy, the 90% confidence level has been attained for cover and production, whereas, in the past the 80% confidence level had been attained. For production sampling, a larger 60cm. x 60cm. frame was used rather than the 30cm. x 60cm. frame used to gather baseline production data for the original permit application. The use of a larger frame reduced the sampling variance, thus reducing the numbers of samples needed to achieve sample adequacy. In 2018, Colowyo submitted information to revise the Danforth Hills aspen reference area (1984) to the Collom Aspen reference area (2005). The Danforth Hills aspen reference area did not comply with Rules 4.15.7(3)(b)(ii) and Rule 4.15.7(3)(d) as it is on BLM private surface. Colowyo cannot control nor manage the reference area in a manner consistent with the approved post mine land use throughout the bond liability period (Rule 3.02.3). However, Colowyo does fully control the Collom Aspen reference area, as it lies on Colowyo deeded surface, and is representative of the soils, slopes, and vegetation within the permit area. Please see Exhibit 10, Item 6 for a statistical demonstration that the Collom Aspen reference area an appropriate reference area. Further, the Collom Aspen reference area has been approved to be used to evaluate revegetation success for the Collom Pit reclamation units, which will be very comparable to the reclamation units in the South Taylor Pit. For the locations of the (1981) Sagebrush Reference Area and (1980) Mountain Shrub Reference Area please see Map 3, and for the (2005) Aspen Reference Area, refer to Map 4.