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y <br />conclusion presented in the 1989 report is based upon the existing permit <br />commitment to use total plant cover as the revegetation success criteria, <br />consistent with regulatory requirements in place when the permit was approved. <br />However, this standard is no longer applicable due to changes in regulatory <br />requirements. The most current regulations as revised 17 January 1990, specify <br />that herbaceous cover is now the accepted standard (Rule 4.15.8(3)(b)). Thus, <br />the conclusions presented in the 1989 report are not totally valid with respect <br />to current regulatory standards. <br />Revegetation success data for evaluation of herbaceous production relative to <br />bond release is presented in Table 9, Summary of Mean Herbaceous <br />Production for Pit 2 and the Sagebrush Reference Area. This summary clearly <br />documents that in both 1989 and 1990, herbaceous production on the <br />reclaimed areas exceeds measured production for the reference area. This <br />comparison substantiates that the Pit 2 reclaimed site meets the revegetation <br />success criteria with respect to production. <br />Requirements for reestablishment of premising woody plant densities have <br />previously been waved by the CMLRD for the Grassy Creek Mine due to the <br />request of the landowner that the reclamation plan emphasize enhancement of <br />disturbed areas with respect to grazing. <br />Species diversity was determined in the 1989 monitoring to fall short of the <br />permit commitment to reestablish at least four perennial grass species and one <br />perennial forb species with no one species comprising more than 40 percent <br />relative cover. The 1990 monitoring data also suggest that none of the <br />reclaimed areas satisfy this criteria. However, this deficiency must be <br />interpreted in light of the overa revegetation success crfteria contained in the <br />CMLRD's Vegetation Guideline. According to this source, woody plant density <br />sampling as a revegetation success criteria, (which has been waved by the <br />CMLRD) does not apply for areas considered as cropland. Therefore, it can be <br />19 <br />