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CHIMNEY ROCK COAL Section 2.04.10 Vegetation Information Page 4, No. 8: The requirements presented under rule 2.04.10 (4) do not contain criteria used by the Division for sample adequacy. The only reference contained in the regulations of the Board for coal mining are found under Rule 4.15.8 (3). These regulations are for demonstrating the success- fulness of revegetation and not for pre-mine vegetation data comparisions. The policy of allowing fora 10% level of accuracy applies for herbaceous communities (Rule 1.04 (57)) and for woody plant communities (Rule 1.04 (153)). The Division has on numerous occasions approved sample adequacy on woody plant communities using a 20% level of accuracy. Since these previous approvals were conducted in conformity with Rule 4.15.7 (3) (b) where the statistical similarity of the reference and pre-mine area was proved to the satisfaction of the Division, a precedent has been established. The request of the Division is contrary to previous policy used by the Division. ~ We acknowledge the fact that a "t" value of 1.645 is required for herbaceous communities. A "t" value of 1.28 was used for both the Mountain Shrub and Barren Ridge communities because these communities are defined under Rule 1.04 (153) as woody plant communities, and the appropriate confidence interval for such comonunities is 80% and not 90%. Therefore, a "t" value of 1.28 was used. Section 2.04.10 Vegetation Information Page 4, No. 9: Herbaceous cover was submitted to satisfy the requirements of Rule 2.04.10 because Rule 4.15.7 (3) specifies that herbaceous cover of woody vegetation communities on both pre-mine and reference areas shall be used to demonstrate statistical similarity. Furthermore, the revegetation success criteria under Rule 4.15.8 (3) (b) relates only to herbaceous and not total cover.