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Topsoil which was stripped in the Pit 1 area was stockpiled and amounts, to 64,000 bank cubic yards. The recommended stripping depths for the Forelle, Manburn, Satanka, and Blackburn soil series were followed at that time. An additional 8,000 bank cubic yards will be salvaged during the drainage corridor construction and reduction of highwalls. This topsoil will be stripped from the Manburn soil series to a depth of 1.25 feet. Areas to be topsoiled will be ripped prior to topsoil placement. The total of 72,000 cubic yards will be spread over 81 acres. This produces topsoil replacement depth of approximately 6 inches. This amount has been determined suitable for reclamation of the disturbed area. The proposed operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. XII. Vegetation - Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(2)(e), 4.15 and 4.18(4)(1) Baseline vegetation information for the Canadian Strip Mine is presented in Section 2.04.]0 of Vo]ume I and Appendix F of volume II of the original permit document. Information pertaining to the revegetation plan is presented in Section 2.05.4 of Volume I and Exhibit I of Volume III. The final approved seed mix is presented as Exhibit 3 in the permit renewal application. Two plant communities, big sagebrush and alkali sagebrush, were located within the permit area. Big sagebrush communities are found on the south and southwest facing slopes, whereas the alkali sagebrush communities are found on north and northeast facing slopes. Reference areas, one for each community type, will be used for evaluation of revegetation success. Species diversity, woody plant densityp production; and cove'r..,,standards have been established for assessing revegetation success. These~tandards were defined as part of satisfying permit stipulation Nos. 18, 19 and 17, respectively, of the original permit approval. Stipulation No. 18 required that a species diversity standard be established. This standard is defined as a minimum of six (5) principal species, of which three (3) will be cool season grasses, two (2) will be shrubs, and one will be a forb. Cool season grasses will contribute 7-35 percent of the total diversity, shrubs will account for 10-27 percent of total diversity, half-shrubs will comprise 1-15 percent of total diversity, and fortis will contribute 1-5 percent to the total diversity. Of the three principal cool season grass species, no single species will comprise greater than 40 percent in relative importance. Of the two shrub species, neither will comprise greater than 80 percent in relative importance. Sampling of diversity will be obtained during the liability period and will meet sample adequacy requirements. A woody plant density standard was established to satisfy the requirements of Stipulation No. 19. This standard is to reestablish woody plant density so that the reclaimed density is a minimum of 90 percent successfully in achieving 3,770 stems per acre with 80 percent confidence. An adequate sample will be taken to properly evaluate the woody plant density. 18