Laserfiche WebLink
_71_ <br />XII. Vegetation (cont'd) <br />The Division questioned the types and application rate of mulch to be used on the <br />steep slopes of the reclaimed surface. The applicant stated that, following top- <br />soiling, 1 ton per acre of straw mulch would be distributed on flat areas and 2 <br />tons/acre would be applied to the steeper slopes of the backfilled portals. The <br />steep slopes above the portal face-up areas will be stabilized by excelsior or jute <br />mesh netting after seeding. <br />The following concerns were raised during the review with respect to revegetation <br />plans for the Bear No. 1 and No. 2 mines and the Bear No. 3 mine. The applicant <br />proposed a sampling plan for evaluating the success of revegetation. The Division <br />recommended that certain changes and additions be incorporated into that plan. These <br />changes included that cover measurements on the reclaimed area will be taken along <br />randomly located 25 meter transects. R point frame and pin will be used to record <br />50 equally spaced measurements per transect. A minimum of 10 transects will be <br />required. Vegetation cover will be recorded by species. First and second hits on <br />vegetation will be recorded separately, with only first hits on vegetation used in <br />the calculation of percent cover. Each separate transect would be one sample, with <br />the percent cover value for each sample determined by totalling the first hits on <br />vegetation and dividing by 50. Hits on bare ground, rock and litter will be <br />recorded separately. If sample adequacy is not met with 10 transects, additional <br />transects will be located and measured until adequacy is obtained. <br />Herbaceous production sampling will consist of clipping the herbaceous vegetation in <br />quarter meter plots located along the previously discussed transects. Five plots <br />will be clipped along each transect. A minimum of five transects, the first five <br />randomly selected transects, will be required. If sample adequacy is not met with <br />this minimum number, more randomly located transects will be sampled until adequacy <br />is met. <br />Measurements of woody plant density will consist of counting the number of shrubs <br />within 25 randomly located lm x 25m belt transects. <br />The applicant indicated that the above sampling procedures were acceptable and would <br />be utilized by Bear Coal Company in determining revegetation success. Due to the fact <br />that the area adjacent to the Bear No. 3 portal has been previously disturbed, the <br />success criteria of Rule 4.15.10 are applicable, specifically, the ground cover of <br />living plants shall not be less than can be supported by the best available topsoil <br />and shall be sufficient to control erosion. The seed mix for the No. 3 mine is attached <br />as Table S1. The mole stfingent requirements of Rule 4.15.8, which include meeting standards <br />for herbaceous production, woody plant density and species diversity are applicable to <br />reclaimed areas at the Bear No. 1 and flo. 2. <br />No plan for periodic monitoring of vegetation on the reclaimed areas was included in <br />the application. The Division recommended, and the applicant accepted, a plan for <br />measuring herbaceous cover and woody plant density along 10 randomly located transects <br />the first growing season following revegetation, and at Zeast every other year <br />thereafter unless the requirement is waived by the Division. <br />The applicant has requested, pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)(vi), that the Division set <br />the revegetation success standards for the Bear mine for the pararreters of herbaceous <br />cover and production, species diversity and woody plant density based on local <br />environmental conditions and available data for similar sites. The standards are <br />listed below. <br />