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<br />-2- <br />Item number five has required Storm King to propose measures for determination <br />of revegetation success for cover, production, woody plant density, and <br />diversity in accordance with Rule 4.15.7. Storm King has proposed to use the <br />same methods for determining revegetation success which were employed during <br />the 1983 Greystone Development sampling. I have found the production <br />methodology to be inappropriate. Therefore, Storm King will need to revise <br />its proposed methods for sampling revegetation success. They have not <br />proposed standards for woody plant density or species diversity. <br />With regard to item number six Storm King has proposed a topsoil sampling and <br />fertilization plan which appears to be acceptable. <br />Summarizing, Storm King has not provided sufficient baseline vegetation <br />information for the Division to approve the permit as is. Additionally Storm <br />King needs to address the areas of seed mixes, measures for determination of <br />revegetation success criteria, and standards for woody plant density and <br />diversity. <br />I have modified my original findings to reflect the information Storm King has <br />submitted <br />Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e), and 4.15 <br />The Division reviewed the application for compliance with Rules and <br />Regulations. Vegetation baseline information is contained on pages <br />3- 124 through 3-142 of Volume I, Appendices 3.6-1 in Volume II, and <br />3.6-2 and 3.6-3 in Volume VI; the revegetation plan is contained on <br />pages 4-68 and 69, and 4-71 through 74 in Volume I. <br />The Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine proposes to disturb significance acreage in three <br />vegetation communities and a small area of a fourth community during the life <br />of mine. The applicant proposes to disturb 104 acres of sagebrush community, <br />113 acres of pinon-juniper vegetation type, 30 acres of irrigated hayland, and <br />9 acres of mountain shrub. The applicant had vegetation baseline studies of <br />varying scope and location undertaken by three different consultants during <br />different years (1981, 1982, 1983). <br />During the review the Division determined that none of the studies provided <br />sufficient baseline vegetation information to meet the requirements of the <br />Division. <br />For this reason the Division is requiring the following stipulation: <br />Stipulation No 1. <br />A. PRIOR TO SUBSTANTIAL ON-SITE DISTURBANCE OF THE SAGEBRUSH AND <br />IRRIGATED HAYLAND VEGETATION COMMUNITIES, THE PERMITTEE WILL PROVIDE <br />VEGETATION BASELINE INFORMATION ACCEPTABLE TO THE DIVISION FOR THE <br />PARAMETERS; VEGETATION COVER, VEGETATION PRODUCTION, WOODY PLANT <br />DENSITY, AND SPECIES DIVERSITY; FOR THE SAGE BRUSH COMMUNITY AND <br />PRODUCTION RECORDS FOR THE IRRIGATED HAYLAND COMMUNITY. <br />