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accordance with thz approved plan, and appropriate woody species should be represented in the reclamation. To demonstrate establishment of vegetation KCC subminzd a "Report of Findings, Reclamation :Monitoring" prepazed by ESCO Associates, Inc.. In this document F.SCO reports the findings from reclamation sampling in 1999 for three reclamation blocks a[ the Matz Nline: the pre-1986 areas, the 1995 reclaimed areas (720 Pit) and the 1996 reclaimed areas (Pit I }and from three reference area: Sore-grass. Sage-gravel and Alkali sage. The reference areas were weighted based on the amount of disturbance from that vegetation type. There was no nuning disturbance in the 5age•gravz! conununity and therefore, the. data from that reference area was not used to calculate the standard. The pre-1986 area did not meet the cover success standard and therefore, it was not included in the Phase II bond release request. Trartseccs were randomly placed in the reference areas and the reclaimed auras. A statistically adequate number of samples were taken from each reference area and €rom the 1995 and 1996 reclaimed areas. Cover data was collected by species using an ocular point frame. A total of one hundred hits were recorded along each transect at one meter intervals. For Phase Il bond release. vegetative cover in the reclaimed area must be 90% of the cover from the weighted reference areas with 90% statistical confidence. According to the Bond Release Application submitted by the Operator, the vegetative cover in the reference area was 30°k and the cover for the reclaimed area was 37.3% or 124% of the prernining cover. This exceeds the standard set forth in Rule 4.15.8(3){a). The inspection confirmed that the cover on the reclaimed area was acceptable. Thera; were no ]rage bare spots and the overall vegetative cover appeared to be uniform. There was na observable erosion in the 7«0 Pit Brea cont3rming that the vegetative cover is adequate to control erosion. The Operator did use the reclaimed area for grazing in the summer of 2000. They had 400 head of cattle gra2.ing for two weeks. This is equivalent to a 50% utilization rate. They indicated that they would use the reclaimed area far grazing again this summer {2001) at about the same rate. An excellent stand of Big Sagebntsh has been established, with seed heads were observed on several of the shrubs. Some of the other dominant species observed were Yarrow and Fringed Sagebrush. The weed control measures that have been undertaken the last couple of years havz proven to be very successful. Some Canadian Thistle was observed but to a much Lesser extent than in thz past several yzars. The Operator should continue weed control as necessary. Hydrologic Reclamation (Sedimentation} - Thz Operator used sedimentation modzling to further demonstrate Phase II Bond Release criteria (Rule 3.03.1(3}(b)) havz been met using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RULSE}. Thzse calculations wire confirmed by the Division, The calculated (estimated) sediment yield for the reclaimed 720 Pit was 0.54 Tons/Acre/Year. The calculated (estimated} premising sediment yield was 1.12 Tons/Acre/Year. This gives an estimated postmining sedimentation yield of 4&% of the premising yield. The critzrion for sedimentation for this area has been met.