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VI. Revegetation <br />A. The Division has previously approved the use of introduced species in the <br />reclamation seed mix. The applicant has submitted information which <br />shows that the introduced species aze desirable and necessary to achieve <br />the approved post-mining land use, and aze not poisonous or noxious <br />(Rule 4.15.2). <br />]3. The Division has previously approved the use of a cover crop as a means <br />to meet soil stabilization requirements. Winter wheat was used as a covet <br />crop on portions of the West Ridge area (Rule 4.15.4). <br />C. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, <br />and woody plant density are discussed in Section 4.4 of the PAP. These <br />techniques include reference area comparisons. The Division previously <br />approved of these techniques [Rule 4.15.7(1)]. <br />D. On topsoil replaced areas, comparison between disturbed azeas and <br />reference azeas in terms of cover and productivity will be used to <br />demonstrate that the success criteria of Rule 4.15.8 have been met. <br />An acceptable species diversity revegetation standard for topsoil <br />redistribution azeas has been approved by the Division. The approved <br />standard states that herbaceous species diversity will require the presence <br />of at least five perennial species, with relative importance of each species <br />equal to or greater than three percent, but less than 40 percent. The <br />combined relative importance of five herbaceous species will not exceed <br />75 percent. If there aze six or more perennial, herbaceous species that <br />satisfy these relative importance requirements, then the maximum <br />combined relative importance standazd will be waived. A numerical <br />standard for cool and warm season/forb species was not required, since a <br />diverse permanent reclamation seed mixture of perennial, predominately <br />native plants, containing cool and warm season grass species and forbs and <br />woody species, was planted. For the two vegetation communities within <br />the affected Moffat Area, the Mountain Shrub community has six (6) <br />perennial, native species: three (3) cool-season grasses, one (1) grass-like, <br />and two (2) forbs. The sagebrush-snowbetry community has seven (7) <br />perennial, native species: three (3) cool-season grasses and four (4) forbs. <br />Pittsburg & Midway will reestablish vegetation similaz to the relative <br />important species with regazd to life form and seasonality rather than <br />revegetating the area with species originally present. Finally, Pittsburg & <br />Midway will establish at least two (2) shrub species in the Moffat Area. <br />The woody stem success standard has been determined to be 1,000 stems <br />per acre. <br />Information pertaining to development of revegetation success criteria for <br />areas without replaced topsoil was received from Pittsburg & Midway on <br />C-1980-001 Permit Renewal 5 Findings Page 29 of 33 Pages <br />