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Six perennial grass species will each have greater than 50% frequency. Two <br />perennial grasses will each have greater than 3% relative cover. Two additional grass <br />species will have greater than 1% relative cover. No one grass species will exceed <br />40% relative cover. <br />Three shrubs will each have greater than 5% frequency. One shrub species will have <br />greater than 1 % relative cover. <br />Combined relative cover of the three forbs and four grasses will not exceed 80%. <br />Species diversity will not apply within the concentrated shrub establishment azeas <br />since the goal of these areas is to provide pockets ofshrub-dominated vegetation. <br />Woody plant density standards have been determined from studies and standazds <br />encountered at comparable surface mines in the North West Colorado region. The <br />overall woody plant density for reclaimed areas will be 450 stems per acre. <br />Concentrated shrub establishment sites will have a woody stem density standazd of <br />2000 stems per acre. <br />All applicable standazds, except species diversity, will be attained at not less than <br />90% of the standard with a 90% statistical confidence interval as required by Rules <br />4.15.8(3), (4), and (7). The region the permit area is located in is typified by cool <br />season species. The seed mixes reflect the dominance of cool season species. No <br />attempt will be made to establish warm season species nor would such establishment <br />be appropriate in this locale. <br />Periodic monitoring will occur on the reclaimed sites. Quantitative vegetation <br />sampling will be performed in yeazs 2, 4, and 7 following the year an azea was <br />seeded. Qualitative monitoring of the reclaimed areas will be performed periodically <br />to assess rill and gully formation, potential noxious weed problems, and evaluate <br />seeding success. Seneca Coal Company will submit an Annual Reclamation Report <br />to the Division by March 30th of each year. The Division approves of this proposal <br />and finds it in compliance with Rule 2.04.13(1). A rill and gully report will be <br />submitted to the Division by June I st of each year. <br />IX. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br />Baseline fish and wildlife information is contained in Tab 11 of the permit <br />application package. The fish and wildlife mitigation plan is located in Tab 23. <br />Seneca Coal Company developed a wildlife monitoring and mitigation plan in <br />conjunction with the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) and the United States <br />Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). Annual surveys will monitor large game <br />populations and use of reclaimed areas, raptor nesting in the permit area, presence <br />Yoast Mine 38 February 28, 2006 <br />