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drainage PD4, with depths of seven and eight inches. The field measurements of the <br />topsoil replacement depths confirmed that the topsoil was replaced in accordance with the <br />permit requirements. Field measurements were also taken in May 1996 (see l4 May 1996 <br />inspection report) with a range from 5-10 inches and an average topsoil depth of seven <br />inches. The two sets of topsoil depth measurements are in agreement. <br />Establishment of Vegetation - To evaluate establishment of vegetation, the Division <br />requires a statistically adequate sample of vegetation cover collected during a single year <br />from each reclaimed area and each reference area. Vegetation establishment is <br />considered acceptable if the cover of the revegetated area is at least 90 percent of the <br />cover from the reference area or other standard with 90 percent statistical confidence. <br />Species composition is evaluated using the relative cover of each species to determine <br />whether the revegetation exhibits seasonality and species composition supportive of the <br />post mining land use. Planting or seeding of woody species is to have been completed in <br />accordance with the approved plan, and appropriate woody species should be represented <br />in the reclamation. <br />To demonstrate establishment of vegetation KCC submitted a "Report of Findings, <br />Reclamation Monitoring" prepazed by ESCO Associates, Inc.. In this document ESCO <br />reports the findings from reclamation sampling in 1999 for three reclamation blocks at the <br />Marr Mine: the pre-1986 areas, the 1995 reclaimed azeas (720 Pit) and the 1996 reclaimed <br />azeas (Pill) and from three reference areas: Sage-grass, Sage-gravel and Alkali sage. The <br />reference areas were weighted based on the amount of disturbance from that vegetation <br />type. There was no mining disturbance in the Sage-gravel corrununity and therefore, the <br />data from that reference area was not used to calculate the standard. The pre-1986 azea did <br />not meet the cover success standard and therefore, it was not included in the Phase II bond <br />release request. <br />Transects were randomly placed in the reference areas and the reclaimed areas. A <br />statistically adequate number of samples were taken from each reference azea and from the <br />1995 and 1996 reclaimed areas. Cover data was collected by species using an oculaz point <br />frame. A total of one hundred hits were recorded along each transect at one meter intervals. <br />For Phase II bond release, vegetative cover in the reclaimed area must be 90% of the cover <br />from [he weighted reference areas with 90% statistical confidence. <br />According to the Bond Release Application submitted by the Operator, the vegetative <br />cover in the reference area was 31.8% and the cover for the reclaimed area was 31.9% or <br />f 00% of the premining cover. This exceeds the standard set forth in Rule 4.15.8(3)(a). <br />The inspection confirmed that the cover on the reclaimed azea was acceptable. There <br />were no large bare spots and the overall vegetative cover appeared to be uniform (with <br />the exception of the exclusions noted above). There was no observable erosion in [he Pit <br />l area confirming that the vegetative cover is adequate to control erosion (with the <br />exception of the exclusions noted above). The Operator grazed 400 head of cattle on this <br />area for two weeks in the summer of 2000, which is a 50% utilization rate. They have <br />Marc Mine SL-02 7 <br />