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~E'! J A diverse vegetative cover consistent with the proposed gazing land use of the site will be established. The diversity standazd is based on minimum percentages. of grasses, shrubs and forbs represented in the reclaimed area. This standard will be easier to evaluate than one based on a diversity index and will allow for the importance of gasses in the proposed post-mining land use. The proposed standard is as follows: Grasses: At least 60 percent of the total vegetative cover with no one Bass species comprising more than 50 percent of the Bass cover. Shrubs: At least 5 percent of the total vegetative cover. Forbs: At least 10 percent of the total vegetative cover. The revegetated azea will be a grassland, and cover and production goals are therefore somewhat higher than the values determined from sampling within the existing pinon- juniper ecosystem surrounding the disturbed area. Revegetation success will be determined by sampling for cover, production and shrub density on the revegetated area. Herbaceous cover will be sampled using apoint-intercept method along transect lines randomly established within the area. Cover of the revegetated area will be at least 90 percent of the goal with 90 percent confidence, using statistical methods approved by the Division. Vegetation production will be determined by clipping, drying and weighing above-Bound current-year growth, sampled from randomly located 1,4 meter circular plots randomly located along the cover transact lines. Production within the revegetated area will be at least 90 percent of the goal with 90 percent confidence. Shrub density will be determined using a 50 meter belt transact centered along the cover transact lines, and will beat least 90 percent of the goal with 90 percent statistical confidence. Forage production will be sampled by harvesting the current year's plant growth of most perennial plants Bowing on all reclaimed areas. As per the Division's Vegetation Guidelines, annuals, biennials, listed noxious weeds and shrub growth will not be harvested or included in the estimates of the forage production. Forage production will be estimated by randomly located clip plots that will be placed along the randomly located field transacts. Forage production will be determined by cliping the current allowable gowth, drying the plant samples and comparing these production estimates to the Permit standards. Data from vegetation monitoring studies will be used to evaluate species diversity. The percent cover of each species will be calculated as a proportion of the total vegetative cover and compared to the proposed species diversity standazd. Soil Testing_Pro ram Replaced topsoil will be sampled to determine the need for any soil amendments. These constituents will be added after topsoil replacement to ensure adequate plant growth conditions. Revised: March, 2005 -Minor Revision #I8 522