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total vegetative biomass. Fresh vegetative biomass adequacy calculations <br />determined that a minimum of 25 samples were needed to achieve adequacy. <br />Additional biomass quadrats were harvested until adequacy was achieved. <br />Production standards are based on air-dry weight. Plant biomass was dried at <br />110°F for a minimum of 72 hours to a constant weight, and then re-weighed to <br />determine dry biomass production on this site. Paper bag weight was subtracted <br />from biomass calculations. The minimum number of samples required to achieve <br />sample adequacy on the dried vegetation was 39 samples. Sample adequacy <br />was achieved for vegetative production. <br />Shrub Density <br />Shrub density data were collected using a belt transect approach All shrubs <br />occurring within one meter on either side of the 50 foot cover transect line were <br />counted on the basis of species. Stem count was recorded by species and <br />reported as stems per acre. Only two woody species were encountered during <br />the sampling: Four-wing saltbush (Atriplex canescens) and Green rabbitbrush <br />(Chrysothamnus vicidiflortis). Shrub density data was not collected to sample <br />adequacy. <br />Revegetation Success Criteria <br />Separate reference areas of approximately 3 acres in size were originally <br />established for the two vegetation communities: pinion juniper and grassland <br />These reference areas could not be located in 2002, thus the Division was <br />unable to utilize the reference areas for comparison purposes during the 2002 <br />and 2003 sampling effort. However, reasonable revegetation standards can be <br />derived from an analysis of the data collected at the reference areas in 1981 <br />(reference area data) and the data collected from the planned mining area in <br />1981 (pre-mine data). These data were obtained from Section 2.04 of the permit <br />application submitted October 16, 1981 and are summarized below. <br />' production values in g/m~ <br /># stem density in stems per acre <br />The Division has determined that no standard for woody plants is appropriate at <br />this site for a number of reasons. First, many of the shrubs that contributed to <br />the relatively high pre-mine shrub count are undesirable and provide no long- <br />