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~ ~ 111111111111 <br />999 IIII III <br />MEMORANDUM <br />T0: Rich Domingue <br />FROM: M.S. Savage .,AVdl,~ <br />RE: Wyoming Fuel Canadian Strip Permit Application - Vegetation Baseline - <br />File lIC-026-81 <br />DATE: ,tune 17, 1981 <br />Rich- <br />I have reviewed the vegetation information for the Canadian Strip relative <br />to the questions and concerns you posed. <br />1. The vegetation map is adequate with the following noted exceptions. The <br />applicant has not provided enough area adjacent to the proposed permit area <br />to allow a".falnation for wildlife habitat. The alkali sagebrush reference <br />area is partially outside of the map topography. The sample locations for <br />vegetative samples need to be provided for the permit area and ref ere ice <br />areas. <br />2. Most operators propose a single seed mix for reclamation purposes. As long <br />as the seed mix provides adequate diversity, adequate seasonality, and <br />representation of the major life forms found at the site, the Division has <br />been accepting one seed mix. By utilizing only one seed mix the operator is <br />taking somewhat of a calculated risk, by assuming that a generic mix fill <br />be suitable for all "micro environmeats." <br />3. Rule 4.15.7(4)(b) allows operators to compare reclaimed areas and reference <br />areas by utilizing weighted averages. In these cases a single comparison is <br />made between all reference areas and the reclaimed area, based on "relative <br />area occupied by each plant community in the pre-mining surface." Wyoming <br />Fuel has misstated the null hypothesis for the t-test that will be applied <br />if reclaimed area mean values are less than weighted reference area mean <br />values. The null hypothesis should read: <br />Ho: reclaimed area x (given parameter) = reference area x (given paramet <br />If this hypothesis is accepted at the appropriate confidence level (90% <br />herbaceous, 80% woody) then reclamation is considered successful. Wyoming <br />Fuel has not addressed success standards for woody plant density. <br />4. I have worked through the statistical analysis of the Wyoming Fuel vegetatio <br />data and have a number of comments. I will group and present them under <br />specific topics. <br />FORMULAE <br />1) The applicant needs to provide the t-test formula utilized in the statistical <br />analysis. <br />FORMULAE VALUES <br />)• <br />1. The regulations (1.04.135) define woody plant communities as those with equal <br />