Laserfiche WebLink
• 2.05.4(2)(e)(vi) <br />(vi) Measures proposed to be used to determine the success of <br />revegetation. <br />The sampling history of the mine to date includes the following. <br />Original vegetation information included in 1981 with the permit <br />application has been placed in Appendix F. This information was <br />originally submitted as baseline information. A 1983 vegetation <br />study, titled Vegetation Cover Survey of the Sagebrush Community <br />Tyoe On the Grand Mesa Mine Permit Area (see Appendix F), was <br />carried out to establish a technical standard for the reclaimed <br />mine site. Finally, vegetation reports were prepared in 1991 and <br />1992 for the operator by Hayes Environmental Services which include <br />estimates of the vegetative cover found on the reclaimed area in <br />those years. Shrub density estimates were also included in the <br />1992 report. The 1992 report is included in Appendix H. <br />Demonstration of revegetation success will be based solely on total <br />absolute cover and will not involve comparison of the reclaimed <br />area to a reference area. Because the mine was previously <br />disturbed, Rule 4.15.10(1) applies and requires that as a minimum, <br />only a valid cover standard will be used to determine success of <br />reclamation with regard to vegetation. As noted above, the 1983 <br />• vegetation study established a technical standard for the reclaimed <br />mine site. Table 1 of the 1983 report indicates that 23.38 total <br />absolute vegetative cover was measured on the areas accepted for <br />reference purposes. Thus, 238 was proposed and accepted as the <br />cover standard that applied to all predisturbed portions of the <br />mine. The species which will count toward the cover standard will <br />be limited to non-noxious perennial plants. Because no new areas <br />were disturbed during the life of the present permit, this standard <br />applies to the entire reclaimed area. No production, woody stem or <br />species diversity success standards apply. <br />Because one cover standard applies to the entire reclaimed surface, <br />the mine site will be sampled as a single unit during the bond <br />release process. A minimum of 15 samples will be collected. <br />Samples will be collected until sample adequacy is reached. Sample <br />locations will be selected randomly from within a gridded map of <br />the disturbed area. Points will then be located in the field <br />through the use of a compass and pacing. Cover transects will <br />originate from sample locations. <br />• 133 (Rev. 6-28-96) <br />