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2016 BR132 mean allowable herbaceous production of 1,873.8 pounds per acre far exceeded 90 <br />percent of the production performance standard of 672.7 lbs/acre. The average herbaceous <br />production by annuals and biennials sampled in the BRB-2 was less than 10% of total herbaceous <br />production (51.2 lbs/acre non -noxious annuals and biennials). <br />Successful revegetation for the parameter of production was demonstrated in both 2015 and 2016. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />Woody plant density is measured by tabulating species within 2 by 50 meter quadrants. All shrubs <br />and subshrubs with root crowns located within the boundaries of the quadrats are tallied. Extended <br />reference areas will be sampled periodically for all parameters and cover, will in general be sampled <br />to sample adequacy. <br />The criterion for determining woody plant density success at the Yoast mine site is based on <br />standards categorized as primary and secondary. The primary standards are as follows: (P1) <br />background average woody density will be > 200 stems per acre in upland areas and (P2) at least <br />10% of the bond release block will be > 1000 stems per acre of concentrated woody density outside of <br />fenced upland sites. Success is evaluated using 90% of the standard or 180 stems per acre <br />(background) and 900 stems per acre (concentrated), respectively. Additionally, there are three <br />secondary standards of which at least two must be satisfied if applicable. Upland fenced shrub <br />areas (S1) must have at least 945 stems per acre, riparian fenced and non -fenced areas (S2) must have <br />945 stems per acre with 150 of the stems being tall shrub or trees and aspen fenced areas (S3) must <br />have 945 stems per acre with 150 of the stems as aspen. In the case of the Yoast BRB-2 release <br />area, there is both a designated Fenced Aspen Woody "Concentration" area as well as a Fenced <br />Upland Woody "Concentration" area. Thus, both secondary standard S1 and S3 apply to the BRB-2 <br />area. In the evaluation of BRB-2 woody plant Concentration Area density data below, mandatory <br />standards PI and P2, Upland Fenced Shrub area secondary standard (Sl), and Fenced Aspen area <br />secondary standard (S3) mentioned above will be addressed. <br />The observed woody plant density for 2015 indicated 1,886.9 stems per acre greatly exceeding the <br />primary standard of > 200 stems per acre and for 2016 the result observed was 2,055.8 stems per acre. <br />The primary standard for woody plant density was met for both years 2015 and 2016. <br />For P2, as cited above, the woody plant density standard as per a reverse null t test observed in 2015 <br />and 2016 respectively were 1.346 and 1.997, exceeding the critical values of 0.853 and 0.852 for years <br />2015 and 2016 respectively. <br />Secondary success standard (S 1 as above), observed for 2015 and 2016 respectively were 3,137.6 <br />and 3,893.1 stems per acre, exceeding the 851 stems per acre standard both years. Secondary success <br />standard (S3) in 2015 utilized the reverse null t test, as the normality test was not passed. The t test <br />yielded a value of 6.192, exceeding the table value of 0.854. Secondary success standard (S3) in <br />2016 utilized a L test as sample adequacy was not achieve in the Fenced Aspen Concentration area, <br />resulting in a value of 2509.1 stems per acre, exceeding the 70% secondary standard of 662 stem per <br />acre. <br />Summarizing; successful revegetation for the parameter of background woody plant density was <br />demonstrated in both 2015 and 2016. Successful revegetation of fenced woody plant concentration <br />areas (Standard S 1) was demonstrated in 2015 and 2016. Successful revegetation of unfenced woody <br />Permit Number C-1994-082 Page 15 of 23 <br />