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Blue Ribbon Mid-Term - 4 - July 12, 1985 /In li. ht of the recent reconstruction of the mine bench, it is not clea~how and to what configuration backfilling of the portal will occu Blue Ribbon should indicate what fill will be used to backfill the highwall while still maintaining bench drainage. A topographic map or cross section showing final configuration should be submitted. ~ ~ In addition, Blue Ribbon Coal Company should discuss the source and -~~ - demonstrate sufficient availability of 4 feet of cover material for the reconstructed bench and 4 inches of topsoil for the entire site. 4,i ~ - al_Company should-sabmii; a plan to extinguish any hot l/ spots or combustion which might occur in the bench. F. Maps 1. Many of the maps and exhibits lack a current valid certification or any certification, legends, scale, or the permit boundary. The following maps should be revised to exhibit all of the above: Exhibits A, B, D, E, F, G, K, L, M, and N. The scale of any of these maps cannot be smaller than 1:24,000. Part II. Advisorv Comments Revegetation success standards for the Blue Ribbon Mine were set by the Division. The standard for species diversity was set at 5.16 species/m2. A letter of December 4, 1985, in which the proposed success standards were set forth, contained the following statement: "The Division has at present not developed a specific success criteria for measuring species diversity on reclaimed areas, therefore the standard listed above may need to be modified upon completion of the Division's revegetation guidelines". Since that time, the concept of species diversity on reclaimed lands has evolved, with the emphasis being placed on the functional importance of various lifeforms in a reclaimed landscape. Based on our review of vegetation information in"the application and the approved seed mixes, the Division sets the following standard for species diversity. A minimum of 1 cool season sod forming grass, and 3 cool season bunch grasses, with each species having a minimum relative cover of 5 percent. Perennial fortis (all species combined) must provide a minimum of 5 percent relative cover. Plo individual herbaceous species which provides in excess of 60 percent relative cover can be counted toward the diversity standard. A minimum of 3 woody plant species must be present in the reclaimed community.