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residentiaUrecreational. Reclamation success for the small remaining azea at the loadout was <br />measured by comparing it to an extended reference azea. <br />The revegetation success criteria for the reclaimed lands are: species diversity, vegetative cover, <br />herbaceous production, and woody plant density. Success was determined by comparison with an <br />undisturbed extended reference azea. Baseline data was not collected on the mine azea prior to <br />disturbance. The mine azea was disturbed prior to the enactment of the current law. In the <br />original permit application, a reference azea was delineated in an undisturbed area which the <br />operator felt most closely approximated pre-mining conditions. Upon further analysis, the <br />operator felt the use of an extended reference azea would be a more accurate representation of <br />pre-disturbance conditions. This revision was approved by the Division in 1992 as Technical <br />Revision No. 14. The sampling methodology for determining revegetation success was clarified <br />in Technical Revision No. 20. In the same technical revision, the species diversity standazd was <br />modified and the woody plant density standazd was waived. <br />The following standards were set as the reclamation success criteria for the North Thompson <br />Creek Mines. The Division found the operator incompliance with these standards for all <br />applicable disturbed acres of the mine site. <br />1. Species diversity: <br />Four perennial non-noxious plant species <br />At least two species will be grasses <br />At least one species will be a perennial forb or shrub <br />No one species shall comprise less than three percent relative cover or greater than 60 percent <br />relative cover. <br />2. Cover: <br />The reclaimed azea cover will be compazed with the extended reference azea cover in <br />accordance with Rule 4.15.8(3). Similaz sampling methodologies will be employed at both <br />reclaimed and reference azea locations. <br />3. Productivity: <br />Herbaceous production on the reclaimed azea will be compared to that of the extended <br />reference azea. Similaz sampling methods will be employed on the reclaimed and reference <br />areas. Requirements of Rule 4.15.8(4) will be complied with. <br />4. Woody Plant Density: <br />The woody plant density standazd has been waived at the request of the landowner, with <br />concun•ence by the Colorado Division of Wildlife. <br />32 <br />