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• 1. Herbaceous Production: 1600 Ibs/acre 2. Herbaceous Cover: 40 percent 3. Species Diversity: The species diversity standard is based on species composition (% relative cover). The reclaimed vegetation surface shall include at least three herbaceous species with relative cover equal to or greater than 3 percent, two of which are cool season grasses, and one fort. The combined relative cover of these species should not exceed 80 percent, and no one species should comprise greater than 60 percent. 4. Woody Plant Density: A woody plant density standard was originally established for riparian areas at Bear No. 1, but is no longer applicable since Mountain Coal Company assumed reclamation responsibility for that area. The permittee will not be required to reestablish a specific shrub density on the remainder of the reclaimed area at the Bear No. 1 and No. 2, or at the Bear No. 3. The fact that the total surface disturbance at the Bear mine is less than 30 acres m;nimi~r_c the importance of reestablishing shrubs for wildlife use. The Mine No. 3 disturbance area is contained within an area previously disturbed by mining and, as a insult, the success criteria of • 4.15.10 apply. The permittee is not obligated to meet a standard for woody phwt density. The most critical objective of reclamation at the site is to stabilize the surface, which can best be achieved through the establishment of a predominately herbaceous community, including both quick growing and long-lived perennial species. Certain shrub species will be included in the broadcast seed mixture; along with adapted grasses and forbs. The data upon which the standards were based was collected by Mountain Coal Company in the dry meadow vegetation type located approximately one-half mile south of the Bear No. 1 and No. 2 portals. The type occurs primarily on the top of the relatively level terraces to the south of the river The meadow type was created by clearing of the wet mixed shrub type for grazing. The dry meadow data represented the most applicable available data for the disturbed areas at the Bear mine, considering environmental conditions and the revegetation plan. SCS production estimates for the Swale range site, which corresponds to the Breece loam soil type along the North Fork, range from 1,500 pounds to 2,000 pounds per acre. Potential vegetation is primarily cool season perennial grasses. • On the basis of available information, because Bear Coal Company is not disturbing any previously undisturbed areas, the Division finds that the proposed operation will not affect the continued existence of any threatened or endangered species. 28