Laserfiche WebLink
seeded during the period from 1980 through 199 L Lands seeded in 199? and 1993 were sampled <br />by Trapper in 1996. Trapper sampled canopy cover for [he Phase ll bond release, but also sampled <br />for species diversity and woody stem density, in order to zvaluate the progress of the revegetation <br />efforts towards supporting the post-mining ]and we of rangeland. The canopy cover and species <br />makeup were sampled using the optical point bar, point-hit technique. The woody stem dznsit_v was <br />sampled using belt transects. <br />Location of Trapper's presentation of revegetation data. [n the bond release submirtal package, <br />Trapper supplied maps and data for their demonstration of revegetation success. Trapper grouped <br />the data into parcels and blocks. Ntap 2.0 shows how the Phase II parcel and block information was <br />defined spatially. Map 2.2 shows the locations of the vegetation sampline transects. The results of <br />the vegetation sampling program are presented in Appendix 2.1. The data are arranged by block <br />number, with summaries for each block, parcel and ttansect. Appendix 2.1 shows the history of each <br />reclaimed pazcel, as well as the various seed mixes used throughout the years at Trapper. Table 2?-2 <br />and Table 2.2-3, on page 2-~ and 2-6 respectively of the bond release submittal package, show the <br />canopy cover percentages and shrub density counts. Table 2.2-1 compazes the revegetation sampling <br />summary with the approved standazds found in the permit application. All of the acreage currently <br />proposed for Phase II bond release was previously approved for Phase I bond release. <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 standazds in the permit application. <br />The approved cover standazds for rangelands A, B and C aze listed on pages 4-102c, 4-102d and 4- <br />102e of the permit application and are restated in Table 2.2-1 on page 2-4 of the bond release <br />submittal. The shrub density standazd is given on page 4-126d of the permit application. Pages 4-128 <br />and 4-128a discuss the pazameters by which species diversity will be measured. <br />Achievement of cover standards and Division's finding of compliance. The revegetation data <br />in Table 2.2-1 of the bond release package show that the required cover standazds were exceeded in <br />all of the Phase II blocks. The exceedances ranged from 9.8 percentage points (blocks AA93 and <br />CC91-93) to 3~.6 percentage points (block A&DC82-93). The average exceedance for all nine <br />blocks was 23.8 percentage points. Noxious weeds were not counted in the analyses. Referring to <br />the data in Appendix 2.2, the sample adequacy for cover was exceeded by ~ times to 47 times the <br />minimum required sample frequency. None of the litter percentages exceeded the maximum allowed <br />for the statistical calculations. The Division finds that the revegetation data have achieved the Phase <br />II release requirement of meeting the approved success standard for cover based on statistically valid <br />data collected during a single yeaz of the liability period. <br />Diversity and progress toward post-mining land use. Table 2.2-2 of the bond release submittal <br />summazi2es the percent cover of each of the perennial grasses and (orbs, annual and biennial grasses <br />and forbs, shrubs, and noxious weeds. Species diversity appears to not be a problem with the grasses, <br />forbs, and shrubs found on the reclaimed site; this was corroborated in the field during the bond <br />release inspection. The data suggest that the seasonality and composition of the species supports the <br />post-mining land use of rangeland. Trapper has noted. and the Division agrees, that noxious weed <br />manasement needs to be continuzd. <br />Trapper Mine Page 7 12114198 <br />Phase II Bond Release <br />