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VIlI. REVEGETATION <br /> Baseline vegetation information can be found in Section 4.5 of the application, and the <br /> revegetation plan is addressed in Section 3.4. Affected vegetation types include juniper woodland <br /> in the vicinity of the portal bench and upper road segment, shadscale shrubland along the middle <br /> segment of the portal haul road, and greasewood shrubland in the office, sediment pond, lower <br /> portal haul road, and McClane to Munger haul road areas. A separate seedmix will be planted <br /> upon final reclamation within each of the vegetation types, as delineated on Figure 3.1-1. Each of <br /> the seedmixes is composed of a diverse mix of warm and cool season grasses, forbs, and shrubs, <br /> the majority of which are native species(Tables 3.4-la,3.4-lb,and 3.4-1c). <br /> The following specific findings are required. <br /> A. The Division proposes to approve the use of one introduced species, weeping alkali grass <br /> (Puccinellia distans) in the reclamation seed mix. The species is desirable and necessary to <br /> achieve the approved post-mining land use, is not poisonous or noxious, and comprises less <br /> than 10%of the seeding rate on a seeds/square ft. basis, for each planting area(4.15.2(3)). <br /> B. The Division proposes to approve the use of certified noxious weed-free, grass hay or straw <br /> mulch as a means to meet soil stabilization requirements. The mulch will be crimped into <br /> the soil on drill seeded sites or anchored with tackifier on broadcast seeded sites.If broadcast <br /> or hydro seeding is employed,the soil surface will be extensively roughened prior to seeding <br /> by means of track-hoe gouging or contour ripping(4.15.4). <br /> C. Methods to measure vegetation cover, herbaceous production, species diversity, and woody <br /> plant density are discussed in Section 3.4.9 of the application. These techniques include <br /> point intercept for cover sampling,quadrat clipping for herbaceous production estimates,and <br /> quadrat stem counts for woody plant density estimates. The Division proposes to approve of <br /> these techniques(4.15.7(1)). Statistical methods employed in demonstrations of success will <br /> be consistent with the Division's bond release guideline. <br /> D. Comparisons between reclaimed and undisturbed areas, in order to demonstrate that success <br /> criteria of 4.15.8,4.15.9,or 4.15.10 have been met,will be based on the following: <br /> Reference areas have been established for each designated vegetation type, and were <br /> originally proposed to be used for comparisons of both vegetation cover and herbaceous <br /> production for the affected types (juniper woodland, shadscale shrubland, and greasewood <br /> shrubland). The reference areas have been approved for vegetation cover success <br /> comparisons. However,because sample adequacy requirements were not met for production <br /> within either the reference areas or affected areas for these types, use of reference areas for <br /> production comparisons was not approved. Because the combined affected area herbaceous <br /> production data for McClane Canyon and the adjacent Munger Canyon permit areas did <br /> meet sample adequacy, within each vegetation type, it was determined that the combined <br /> affected area production data would be used as the success standard for each of the affected <br /> vegetation types, pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)(vi) [April 16, 1985 Findings Document]. <br /> The herbaceous production success standards based on combining of the data within <br /> vegetation types for both mines are as follows: <br /> Greasewood Shrubland sample mean: 766 lb/ac. <br /> Standard(90%of mean): 690 lb/ac. <br /> 22 <br />