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-z6- XII. Vegetation -Rules 2.04.10, 2.05.4(z)(e) and 4.15 The Uivision has reviewed the information provided by the applicant in Appendix B, and Section F (pages F02 through F-4) of the permit application for compliance with the requirements of this seciion. Several concerns surfaced during the review process. Some were addressed adequately in responses provided by the applicant, while others have not been satisfactorily resolved. The applicant has delineated two vegetative communities at the mine site. Baseline data was collected and reference areas were established at the site. The Uivision has determined that sampling of the parameters presented was adequate and that the reference area for the Big Sagebrush community was equivalent to the baseline Big Sagebrush community in terms of cover, production and shrub density. For the Grassland community, it was determined that the reference area and the baseline grassland community were not equivalent (at a confidence level of 95%), primarily due to the yreater cover and productivity of the reference area. The applicant is willing to accept the higher productivity and cover of the grassland reference area, and use the values for cover and productivity from this reference area in future determinations of re vegetation success. The applicant has not provided the Division with any baseline or reference area shrub density data for the grassland vegetation type. The pre-mine grassland community has been disturbed. Therefore, the following stipulation is necessary: Stipulation No. 3: THE PERMITTEE WILL PROVIDE THE DIVISION WITH ADEQUATE BASELINE REFERENCE AREA SHRUB DENSITY DATA FOR THE GRASSLAND VEGETATION TYPE. THIS INFORMATION SHALL BE SUBMITTED NO LATER THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER PERMIT ISSUANCE. SHRUB DENSITY REVEGETATION SUCCESS STANDARDS AND DATA SHALL BE APPROVED IN WRITING BY THE DIVISION PRIOR TO RELIEVING THE PERMITTEE OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THIS STIPULATION. During the course of the permit review, the applicant provided an adequate discussion of the methods and criteria to be used in evaluating re vegetation success, with the exception of species diversity and re vegetation monitoring. The permittee is working with the Division to establish species diversity criteria. To formalize this commitment, the following is stipulated: Stipulation No. 4: WITHIN ~ MONTHS OF PERMIT ISSUANCE, THE PERMITTEE, IN COOPERATION WITH THE DIVISION, SHALL DETERMINE A METHOD (AND SUCCESS STANDARDS) FOR EVALUATIOIV OF SPECIES DIVERSITY ON RECLAIMED AREAS AT THE BUURG STRIP.