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10 <br />reclaimed if the total vegetative cover on the reclaimed area is not less than 90 percent of the total <br />vegetative cover of the Osgood reference area with 90 percent statistical confidence with aone-tailed <br />test." <br />The Division considers diversity of cover at Phase II Bond Release in its evaluation of "vegetation <br />which supports the approved postmining land use" [Rule 3.03.1(2)(b)]. Achievement of the approved <br />Final diversity standard is not a requirement for phase II bond release; however, review of the slxcies' <br />relative cover data is considered with regard to supporting the postmining land use. The reclaimed <br />parcels are dominated by a grassland community. The establishedgrasses are weighted toward warm <br />season forage species. The approved diversity standard requires "at least seven perennial species of <br />which four are warm season grasses and one is a forb. No one component of the above species should <br />comprise greater than 40% relative importance or less than 3% relative importance." There is no <br />woody plant density standard required for these reclaimed areas. <br />All the 1985, 1986, and 1987 reclaimed areas show positive establishment toward the final diversity <br />standard. Since 1995 data was used to determine cover success on the 1985 reclaimed parcel, 1995 <br />data was used for diversity evaluation as well. Vegetation data collected in 1995 on the 1985 reclaimai <br />parcel showed that 8 graminoid species were present. Four of the grasses are warm season grasses, <br />and are present at greater than 3% relative importance but less than 40% relative importance. Two <br />forb species were present at greater than 2% but less than 3% relative cover. The Division finds the <br />data supports that the reclaimed community is progressing towards the final reclamation diversity <br />standard. This finding is further supported by the achievement of the diversity standard in the 1996 <br />data. <br />Vegetative data collected in 1996 was used to determine cover success on the 1986 and 1987 parcels, <br />therefore the 1996 data will be used to determine diversity success on these two parcels. The 1986 <br />reclaimed parcel exhibits six perennial species at greater than 3 % relative importance, with four of <br />these species composed of warm season grasses. However, the one forb species present at greater that <br />3% relative importance was He[ianrhus annuus, an annual. The 1987 reclaimed parcel displays six <br />perennial species with greater than 3% relative importance. Three of these species are warm season <br />grasses. Two warm season grass species were encountered at a relative importance of 1.78% each. <br />Two species of annual forb are present with greater than 3% relative importance. This data further <br />supports the finding that vegetation has been established that supports the postmining land use. <br />Erosion <br />A 1996 Sedimentology Analysis, Phase II Bond Release, Keenesbut; Mine, Coors Energy Company, <br />Keenesburg, Colorado, prepared by Savage and Savage, Inc., dated December 199b, was included as <br />a pan of the Application. This analysis demonstrates that the reclaimed areas of the Application <br />produce less sediment than the adjacent undisturbed sand sage area. Basedon a review of the analysis, <br />and site inspections, the Division concludes that sediment produced from the reclaimed areas is less <br />I 1 August 98 <br />