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Species diversity in the combined natural communities (i.e., areas formerly mapped as Riparian <br />Woodland, Mountain Shrubland Dry Phase, Mountain Shrubland Moist Phase, Pinyon-Juniper <br />Woodland, and Rubber Rabbitbrush Shrubland vegetation) will be considered acceptable if sampling <br />demonstrates that four perennial, non-noxious plant species have been established and are <br />contributing between 3°1o and 60°1o relative cover. At least two species should be grasses and at least <br />one should be a perennial forb or shrub. <br />Quantitative SamQing -General: <br />Pages 2 and 3 of the 1992 Vegetation Report detail some of the pertinent history regarding the <br />baseline survey and the selection of the original reference area. In 1992, TR-14 was approved by the <br />Division allowing MINREC, Inc. to use the baseline survey's "affected area" as an extended reference <br />area. At the time of the revision and the 1992 vegetation survey, Drawing D-3-16 was the only map <br />that was in the operators copy of the ]982 Vegetation Inventory. At that time, it was assumed that <br />the original "affected area" was located north of the county road that runs just north of Mines 1 and <br />3. In 1994, reference area points were again selected as part of a study that was completed but never <br />submitted. When some were inaccessible, the sampler decided to reexamine the 1982 baseline survey. <br />Upon reinspection, it was noted that page 2 of the baseline survey contained a reference to '.'Figure <br />3. 1-1" which could not be located in any copies of the permit. The operator contacted Western <br />Resources Development Corporation, the author of the baseline survey, and was able to get a copy <br />ofthe missing document which showed the baseline sample area boundaries. Only minor incursions <br />have been made since 1982 into portions of the "affected area" around the Waste Pile and the eastern <br />portion of Mine 1. Therefore, the reference area can be considered to be denoted by the area <br />identified as the "affected area" in Figure 3. 1 -1 of the baseline survey. <br />The reclaimed and the reference areas are not single continuous areas. The reclaimed area consists <br />of the New Fan Site, Mine Number 3, Mine Number 1, the Waste Pile, and the Loadout area that was <br />mapped as Pinyon-Juniper or Rubber Rabbitbrush. The reference area, which is completely around <br />the mine area and not in the loadout area, consists of two areas, one that runs north and east of the <br />mine disturbed area and another located on the south facing area of Stony Ridge around the old fan <br />site road. Sample locations wil{ be selected randomly from within the reclaimed and reference areas. <br />Within each reclaimed parcel, cover sample locations will be drawn from maps using a regularly <br />spaced grid (100 x 100 ft). In the reference area, cover sample locations will also be drawn randomly <br />from a gridded map (200 x 200 feet grid). Sample points will be located in the field through the use <br />of a compass and pacing. Cover transacts will originate from sample locations. For production <br />sampling, in which a much greater number of samples will need to be collected, sample locations will <br />be drawn from a 50 x 50 ft grid in the reclaimed area and a 100 x 100 foot grid in the reference area. <br />Approximate sample locations will be marked on a map. <br />• 4-65 Revised June 1998 <br />PN-o3 <br />T~ -~ a <br />