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M1 i <br /> that the introduced species are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved <br /> post-mining land use, and are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2). <br /> B. The Division proposes to approve the use of a cover crop as a means to meet <br /> soil stabilization requirements (4.15.4). <br /> C. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and <br /> woody plant density are discussed in the permit application. These techniques <br /> include: <br /> 1. Cover - Point intercept along a randomly located line transect or ocular <br /> estimates in randomly located sample quadrants. <br /> 2. Production- Clipping of one-meter-square plots,oven drying and weighing <br /> or weighing of baled hay, sampling bales and then oven drying and <br /> weighing of samples. The technique used depends on the end land use of <br /> the area sampled. <br /> 3. Species diversity - Qualitative comparisons using cover and frequency <br /> values. <br /> 4. Woody plant density - Counting within randomly located belt transects. <br /> The Division proposes to approve these techniques (4.15.7(1)). <br /> D. In order to demonstrate that revegetation success criteria of 4.15.8, 4.15.9, and <br /> 4.15.10 have been met, the following success standards will be used: <br /> 1. Cover - The success standard for irrigated pasture is based on baseline <br /> surveys which indicated a total ground cover of 94.5 percent (live <br /> vegetation cover of about 72 percent and litter cover of about 23 percent). <br /> The success standard for dryland pasture is based on a cover comparison <br /> with the established reference area for New Horizon. A cover success <br /> standard for irrigated hayland is not applicable because revegetation <br /> success is only dependent on production. <br /> 2. Production - Grass hayland area success standards will be based on three <br /> year records (1987-1989) of other hayland directly west of the proposed <br /> permit area. The first year of record (1987) indicates a production of <br /> about 6.0 tons per acre per year. The success standard for irrigated <br /> pasture areas is based on Soil Conservation Service Soil Interpretation <br /> Records (SCS Form 5's) for the Progresso Soil Series. This technical <br /> standard will be 4.0 tons per acre per year. The success standard for <br /> dryland pasture areas will be based on SCS Form 5's for the Travesilla <br /> 22 <br />