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9 <br />90% graminoid species, 5-15 % fortis and 5-10% shrubs. Basal cover rn good range condition would <br />be approximately 15-20%. (Deep Sand Range Site description #15, MLRA 67, October 1989) <br />Degraded range would have a reduction in sand bluestem, prairie sandreed, yellow indiangrass, little <br />bluestem, needle-and-thread grass, switchgrass, and sideoats grams. Increaser species found on <br />degraded range would include sand sage, sand dropseed, blue grams, yucca, blowout grass, and red <br />three-awn. In light of this range site description, the reference area would be considered in degraded <br />condition. <br />Considering the lower percentage of sand sage present in the three reclamation parcels in addition to the <br />presence of sand bluestem, prairie sandreed and a lack of noxious weeds, the reclaimed azeas appear to <br />be progressing to a range condition better than the reference area. Since the postmining land use is <br />rangeland, establishmentofgood range site with vegetative species that support the postmining land use <br />is important to determining revegetation success. <br />The three parcels comprising the requested Phase II bond release block were seeded with approved <br />seed mixes. Approximately 22 acres were seeded in 1985, 46 acres were seeded in 1986 and 4i acres <br />seeded in 1987. <br />Cover data was collected during August 10 and 11, 1996. A Division representative was present <br />during a portion of the permittee's vegetation sampling and confirmed that the method used for data <br />collection was in agreement with methodologies described in the permit and accepted by the Division. <br />The timing of data collection was scheduled to correlate with anthesis and maximum plant development <br />for the growing season. <br />Total cover was measured by the permittee using randomly located transects located as described in <br />the Application. The point-interceptmethod was used to collect first hit vegetative data. Subsequent <br />"hits" were used to calculate species composition and relative importance. Additional detail of data <br />collection techniques can be found in the Application. <br />Data collected by the permittee in August 1996 indicated that the area seeded in 1985 had a total <br />vegetative cover of 31.2%. An absolute cover value of 30.7% was attributable to herbaceous species. <br />Litter accounted for 50.5% cover, with bare ground comprising 18.3 %. The 1986 reclaimed area was <br />measured at 37.47% total vegetative cover. Litter comprised 52.4% and bare ground accounted for <br />10.13 %. In the 1987 reseed area, total cover constituted 37.7% absolute cover. Litter covered 47.5% <br />and the remaining 14.8% was bare ground. <br />Vegetative data collected by the permittee in 1995 indicated that the total vegetative cover on the 1985 <br />reclaimed area was 92.6% of the reference area for the 1995 growing season. Detail of the 1995 <br />sampling data is in the Keenesburg Mine 1995 Annual Reclamation Report. <br />The cover standard as stated in the Permit is "Reclaimed areas will be considered successfully <br />11 August 98 <br />