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Shadscale Shrubland sample mean: 661 lb/ac. <br /> Standard(90%of mean): 595 lb/ac. <br /> Juniper Woodland sample mean: 389 lb/ac. <br /> Standard(90%of mean): 350 lb/ac. <br /> The diversity standard is specified on page 3-17, and requires that a minimum of three <br /> perennial species shall each provide a minimum of 3% relative cover. At least two of these <br /> species shall be cool season perennial grasses. No individual species shall represent more <br /> than 60%relative cover. This standard was amended by RN-04,from the previous standard <br /> which mentioned perennial forbs and warm season grasses as counting toward the diversity <br /> standard,but identified no minimum relative cover level for any particular life form. Neither <br /> warm season grasses nor perennial forbs were significant components of the affected <br /> vegetation types. The relatively small number of species required to meet the diversity <br /> standard reflects the fact that the total disturbance is only 9.2 acres, and the largest <br /> disturbance in any one vegetation type is less than 5 acres. The 60% upper limit is also <br /> reflective of the small disturbance area, and the fact that relative cover of the dominant <br /> species in the three affected vegetation types ranged from 40%to 58%. <br /> The woody plant density standards previously established by the Division in consultation <br /> with the Division of Wildlife are: <br /> Greasewood Shrubland: 500 stems per acre <br /> Shadscale Shrubland: 500 stems per acre <br /> Juniper Woodland: 1,500 stems per acre <br /> The Division finds that a density standard lower than 90 percent of the density of the <br /> approved reference area is appropriate(4.15.8(7)). <br /> D:. PROTECTION OF FISH,WILDLIFE AND RELATED ENVIRONMENTAL VALUES <br /> Fish and wildlife information and the fish and wildlife plan are presented in Section 4.3 of the <br /> application. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br /> (USFWS) were both notified of the RN-05 renewal application, but neither agency submitted <br /> comments on the application. The DOW did comment on the RN-04 application in 1996, and <br /> noted in their letter that elk use of the permit and adjacent area had increased substantially in the <br /> years since the original application had been prepared in the early 1980's. The Large Mammal <br /> section of the Wildlife Inventory narrative in the permit application was updated to reflect the <br /> increased elk use described by DOW. <br /> A noxious weed control plan to include the use of 2,4-D,a soil persistent,broadleaf herbicide, and <br /> glyphosate (Roundup), a non-persistent, non-selective herbicide, was added to Section 4.5.14 of <br /> the application during the RN-04 review, to control noxious weeds such as whitetop, field <br /> bindweed and Canada thistle along roads,stockpiles,and other disturbed areas in the permit area. <br /> The following specific findings are required. <br /> A. The applicant has proposed the use of persistent pesticides on the site during mining and/or <br /> reclamation operations. The Division proposes to approve this usage(4.18(5)(g)). <br /> 23 <br />