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shrub land), and about five acres of the original waste disposal area was conducted in 1981. <br /> This study also provided information to allow for the development of a revegetation plan. <br /> A third vegetation inventory was conducted in 1982 since the two identified reference areas <br /> did not adequately reflect the intended post-mining land use. This third inventory allowed <br /> for the development of acceptable vegetation success criteria and resulted in a modification <br /> to the seed mixture. A fourth inventory was conducted in 1986 at the Bowie No. 1 West <br /> Mine. Due to the small acreage disturbed (approximately 12 acres), no reference areas <br /> were established. However, vegetation success standards were developed specific to this <br /> site from the study. <br /> Vegetation on the areas affected by this mine is characterized by pinon-juniper stands, <br /> mixed mountain shrub lands, oakbrush shrub lands, and orchard land. The pinon-juniper <br /> type is the most extensive vegetation type disturbed, covering 81 of the 144 total disturbed <br /> acres. A total of 10.1 acres of the mixed shrub land type has been disturbed. <br /> From the vegetation studies, no proposed or listed threatened or endangered plant species <br /> of Federal or state concern were identified. Therefore, pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n), the <br /> Division finds that mining activities will not affect the existence of endangered or <br /> threatened plant species or result in the destruction of their critical habitats. <br /> The approved permanent seed mix (PAP Section 2.05) includes a variety of approved <br /> substitute species to allow the operator to select species based upon availability and cost. <br /> The permanent seed mix will be used for all areas except the unit train loadout area,which <br /> will be planted to cropland. Topsoil piles that will not be redistributed for five or more <br /> years were seeded with the proposed permanent seed mix(excluding shrubs and trees), and <br /> not the temporary seed mix. Revegetated areas were scarified prior to topsoil replacement <br /> (where topsoil was available) and then drill seeded. Steep slope areas were to be broadcast <br /> or hydroseeded. All seeded areas were mulched with hay or straw, and fertilizer was <br /> applied on an as-needed basis according to soil analyses. <br /> For the primary area of the mine, the following revegetation success standards have been <br /> developed for the Bowie No. 1 Mine (Section 2.05.4(2), last updated with TR-63 in 2018). <br /> Bowie No. 1 Mine East Mine and ROM <br /> a. Total vegetation ground cover will exceed 36 percent. <br /> b. Total above-ground herbaceous production will exceed 360 pounds per acre. <br /> C. Woody plant density (shrub, sub-shrub, or tree) will equal or exceed 90 plants per <br /> acre. <br /> d. Species diversity will consist of at least five native perennial herbaceous species, <br /> three native cool season grasses, and two native forbs. At least two native shrub <br /> species will be established; they shall not contribute to more than 80 percent of <br /> cover. <br /> 34 <br />