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Compliance of topsoil thickness. Topsoil mean thicknesses exceed the 13-inch minimum on nine <br />of the ten bond release parcels (please refer to Table 2.3- I of the SL-0l bond release submittal, or <br />Appendix 1 of the SL-02 submittal for a summary). The single parcel that does not exceed the <br />minimum. parcel D-A-8a, fell slightly short of the 12-inch minimum on some of the field <br />measurements where the thickness averaged 1 1.4 inches. Other field measurements on this parcel <br />exceeded the minimum, ranging up to 13.5 inches. <br />Division's finding on topsoil thickness. The Division finds that Trapper has replaced the necessary <br />topsoil thickness on all of the reclaimed parcels submitted for Phase II bond release in bond release <br />application SL-02. <br />Reve2etation Success <br />History of revegetation sampling. Trapper's revegetation sampling method is described on page <br />2 of the bond release submittal. The Division reviewed Trapper's method in the field at the start of <br />the summer of 1995 when the method was established for Trapper's first bond release. SL-O1. For <br />the current bond release application, SL-02, Trapper sampled the blocks for canopy cover, shrub <br />density, and plant cotnposition in July 1999. The Division observed the sampling during its regular <br />monthly inspection. Cover data were collected in compliance with the approved method described <br />in the permit on page 4-123. Canopy cover and species makeup were sampled using the optical point <br />bar, point-hit technique. The woody stem density was sampled using belt transects. Trapper sampled <br />for species diversity and woody stem density in order to evaluate [he progress of the revegetation <br />efforts towards supporting the post-mining land use of rangeland. Productivity data were not <br />collected because productivity is not evaluated in a Phase II bond release. <br />Location of Trapper's presentation of revegetation data. Trapper grouped the vegetation <br />sampling data into three blocks, comprised of ten parcels. Appendix 1 of the SL-02 bond release <br />submittal shows the history of each reclaimed parcel, as well as the various seed mixes used <br />throughout the years at Trapper. Map l in the submittal shows the locations of the blocks and <br />parcels; Map 2 shows the locations of vegetation sampling transect locations. The vegetation <br />sampling data are presented in Appendix 2. The data are arranged by block number, with summaries <br />for each block, parcel and transect. <br />Sample adequacy. Trapper ran more transects than the minimum recommended in the Division's <br />bond release Guideline. For Trapper's vegetation data set, the Guideline would suggest a minimum <br />of 15 to 20 transects per bond release block, or a lesser number calculated by a formula (given on <br />page 21 of the Guideline). Trapper ran at least 23 transects on each block. <br />Location of revegetation standards. For the Phase II bond release request, the Division compared <br />Trapper's revegetation data in the bond release submittal to the standards in the permit application. <br />The approved cover standards for rangelands A, B and C are set forth on pages 4-102c, ~}-102d and <br />4-102e of the permit application, and are restated in Table 1.2-1 on page 4 of the bond release <br />Trapper Mine <br />Phase II Bond Release Page 6 12/23/99 <br />