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Achievement of cover standards. Table 1, below, shows that in the July 1999 sampling, cover on <br />all three bond release blocks exceeded the bond release cover standards. <br />/' Table 1 <br />Comparison of 1999 cover <br />("cover" is defined on pages <br />4-103 and 4-104 of permit) <br />Bond release Bond release <br />block sample standard <br />mean, % specified in <br />Bond release permit, % <br />block <br />A Pit RSA&B 94.3 52.0 <br />D Pit RSA&B 75.2 52.0 <br />H Pit RSB 65.5 52.0 j <br />~- ___ - -. <br />Division's finding that percent cover is sufficient for bond release. Based on the comparison <br />shown in Table 1, above, the Division finds that vegetative cover on the bond release blocks has met <br />the Phase II bond release success standards for cover based on statistically valid data collected during <br />a single year of the liability period. <br />Diversity and progress toward post-mining land use. Although a Phase II bond release does <br />not have a specific requirement for species diversity, the Division evaluates the vegetation data to <br />verify that the reclaimed lands are progressing towazd supporting the post-mining land use. As <br />shown in Table 2, below, the bond release parcels already meet the Phase III (final bond release) <br />species diversity standads in all respects, with the following exception: H Pit RSB had only <br />three cool season perennial grasses contributing at least 3% relative cover. The standard requires <br />a minimum of four of those grasses. There aze two grass species in H Pit RSB each comprising <br />more than 1% relative cover. These two species indicate the reclamation will achieve all of the <br />diversity standards in a few growing seasons. <br />