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` "• <br />With the exceptions of existing scarps at the portal areas, the reclaimed areas blend with the <br />surrounding topography. There are no signs of instability such as cracking, bulging, or slumping <br />on any of the regraded areas. Vegetation on the formerly disturbed areas is a diverse, apparently <br />self-sustaining community, that adequately controls erosion. <br />Based upon a review of [he mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and site <br />inspections, the Division finds that Bear Coal Company has completed backfilling, grading and <br />drainage reestablishment at the Bear No. 1 and 2 Mines in accordance with the approved <br />reclamation plan. As discussed in Section I of this document, the highwall reclamation at the Bear <br />No. 1 and No. 2 Mines is in full compliance with Section 4.14.1(2)(f). <br />Phase II Bond Release <br />The Division, at Bear Coal Company's request, set the revegetation success standards for the Bear <br />Mines. The success standard for herbaceous cover is 40%. For herbaceous production, the <br />standazd is 1600 pounds per acre. The species diversity standard requires that vegetation include <br />at least three herbaceous species with relative cover equal to or greater than 3% two of which are <br />to be grasses, and one a forb. The combined relative cover of these species shall not exceed 80%, <br />and no one species should comprise greater than 60% of the relative cover. There is no woody stem <br />component in the success standard. The operator provided data from vegetation monitoring <br />conducted in 1991, 1992, and 1993 which demonstrates that the reclaimed areas meet or exceed <br />90% of the herbaceous cover and production standards at the 90% statistical confidence level, in <br />accordance with Section 4.15.8(3)(a),avd meet or exceed the species diversitystandard. Following <br />is a summary of the data: <br />Standard 1991 1992 1993 <br />Herbaceous Cover 37.7% 36.67% 36.4% <br />Production 1,603 Ibs/acre 2,294 Ibs/acre 1,790 Ibs/acre <br />Number of species 6 6 7 <br />equal to or greater than <br />3 % relative cover <br />Types of those species 5 grasses, 1 forb 4 grasses, 2 fortis 6 grasses, 1 forb <br />equal to or greater than <br />3% relative cover <br />HiEhest relative cover 34.8% 42.8% 34.4% <br />of any one species <br />Total relative cover of 67.2% 62.9% 59.4% <br />three most dominant <br />species <br />Bear No. 1 acrd 2 Mrnes Baird Release Page 6 <br />