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<br />utilization of reclaimed lands by elk in the southeastern portion of the permit area' The following <br />standards of revegetation success have been developed based on the postmining land use, the <br />general land use of the area, past history of the site, and the unique environmental conditions <br />and resources at Nucla. <br />Revegetation success in terms of coyer will be measured by comparing the total <br />~~~+ <br />vegetative cover on the upland sagebrush _reference area to the total vegetative cover on the <br />reGaimed areas. Cover will be measured either by point intercept along a random line transact <br />~_or, b~ ocular cover estimat in randomly located sample quadrats. Only first hit vegetative cover <br />-for point intercept measurements or non-strat'rfied cover for ocular estimates are to be used for <br />evaluation of total vegetative cover and herbaceous cover. Vegetative cover of the revegetated <br />area will be considered acceptable if ii is not less than 90 percent of the total vegetative cover in <br />the reference area with 90 percent statistical confidence. <br />The reference area is to be used for the cover standard because of a lack of adequate dryland <br />~ pasture areas in the vicinity for comparison. The reference area occurs on soils similar to those <br />used in reclamation and experiences the same climatic conditions, thus vegetation responses <br />between the two areas should be similar. The cover in the reclaimed areas will be dominated <br />by the herbaceous component and thus, for site stability and erosion control purposes, it will be <br />more effective than a similar level of cover in the reference area where a greater proportion of <br />the cover is aNocated to the woody component. All revegetated areas that a~ coye[ed under the <br />current Colorado Permanent Regulatory Program, excluding areas which are to be redisturbed <br />and which were previously mined, as to have the above standard applied. <br />For those areas previously mined, and which are to be reaffected under the mine and <br />reclamation plan detailed in Tabs 12 and 13, the requirements of Rule 4.15.10 apply. The <br />ground cover (vegetation and litter) in these areas (including all or portions of Mining Areas 2, 3, <br />and 4) will not be less than that which can be supported by the best available topsoil or other <br />~ suitable material in the reaffected areas, will not_ bJ a less ~an_the._ground_cover_existing before <br />redisturbance, and will be ade~uate_to_control_erosion. See Exhibit 22-1 "Postmine Vegetation <br />Map - Nucla Mine" for identification of these areas. The results of cover sampling conducted <br />during the summer of 1988 for the above areas are presented later in this tab in Appendix 22-1, <br />Table 1 "Cover and Frequency Summary for Previously Reclaimed Areas, Mining Areas 2, 3, and <br />4 - Nucla Mine, 1988". <br />.-os <br />As stated above, the ground cover existing before redisturbance was documented during the <br />summer of 1988 by collecting cover data on previously reclaimed areas not disturbed by mining <br />in the southeast portion of the New Horizon 1 Mine (generally, the N'/z NE'/. Section 36 T47N <br />R16W and the SW'/. NW'/. Section 31 T47N R15W). The ground Cover value determined from <br />22-10 <br />