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revegetation success standards outlined in the PAP, also DRMS received a letter from the USDA on 10 <br /> February 2021 concurring the vegetation established in this area would support the approved post mine land <br /> use in accordance with Exhibit 24 of the PAP. <br /> Vegetation Production <br /> The 2014 mean allowable herbaceous production in the Strip Pit was 610.1 lbs/acre, exceeding the 90% <br /> performance standard of 298.0 lbs/acre. Sample adequacy was not achieved therefore a null hypothesis test <br /> was conducted in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(2)(c),the critical t value of 1.311 is exceeded the T calc <br /> value of 4.428,therefore the null hypothesis is rejected and the revegetation is deemed successful. For 2015 <br /> the mean allowable production of the Strip Pit was found to be 606.7 lbs/acre,exceeding the 90% <br /> performance standard of 298.7 lbs/acre. Sample adequacy was achieved however the number of samples was <br /> not greater than 30,therefore a null hypothesis test was conducted in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(2)(c),the <br /> critical t value of 1.311 is exceeded the T calc value of 6.801,therefore the null hypothesis is rejected and the <br /> revegetation is deemed successful. <br /> Woody Plant Density <br /> Thirty transects were located and sampled for woody plant density. Sample adequacy was not achieved in <br /> the reclaimed area or the reference area,therefore a non-parametric rank order L test was used to <br /> demonstrate success in both years in accordance with Rule 4.15.11(3)(a). In 2014, 1548.3 stems per acre <br /> were observed,exceeding the 900 stems per acre standard. L tests yielded a result of 788.9 for the 80% <br /> confidence limit which is greater than 70%of the success standard(700 stems)and is therefore deemed <br /> successful. The 1356.8 stems per acre observed in 2015 exceeds the performance standard. The L tests for <br /> 2015 yielded 915.409 for the 80%confidence which is greater than 70%of the success standard(700 stems) <br /> and is therefore deemed successful. <br /> Species Diversity <br /> In 2014 six species contributed more than 5.0%to the H value and the four largest contributing species <br /> totaled 50.3%toward H,meeting the success criteria. Also,mandatory A test was passed. Agropyron <br /> cristatum, at 32.5%was the most abundant species,alternative B and C tests were passed as per the SL4 <br /> application. In 2015 nine species contributed more than 5.0%to the H value and the four largest contributed <br /> species a combined total of 58.3%toward H,meeting the success criteria. Mandatory A test was passed with <br /> no single specie contributing greater that 40%relative cover. Alternative B test was passed with the mean <br /> species density in the Reference area at 11.5 species per 100 sq.m. and 12.8 in the Strip Pit. The reclaimed <br /> area was greater than the reference area, demonstrating success. Alternative C test was also passed with a <br /> mean species density in the reference area of 82% exceeding the 90%standard of 63%demonstrating <br /> success. <br /> Final reclamation success was evaluated for vegetative cover, herbaceous productivity, species <br /> Permit Number C1981044 Page 24 of 25 <br />