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<br />B. The Division proposes to approve the use of a cover crop as a means <br />to meet soil stabilization requirements (4.15.4). <br />C. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species <br />diversity, and woody plant density are discussed in the permit <br />application. These techniques include: <br />New Horizon Mine 1 <br />1. Cover - Point intercept along a randomly located line transect or <br />ocular estimates in randomly located sample quadrats. <br />2. Production - Clipping of 1 meter squared plots, oven drying and <br />weighing. <br />3. Species diversity - Qualitative comparisons using cover and <br />frequency values. <br />4. Woody plant density - Counting within randomly located belt <br />transects. <br />New Horizon Mine 2 <br />1. Cover - Point intercept along a randomly located line transect or <br />ocular estimates in randomly located sample quadrats. <br />2. Production - Clipping of 1 meter squared plots, oven drying and <br />weighing or weighing of baled hay, sampling bales and then oven <br />drying and weighing of samples. The technique used depends on <br />the end land use of the area sampled. <br />3. Species diversity - Qualitative comparisons using cover and <br />frequency values. <br />4. Woody plant density - Counting within randomly located belt <br />transects. <br />The Division proposes to approve these techniques (4.15.7(1)). <br />D. In order to demonstrate that revegetation success criteria of 4.15.8, <br />4.15.9, and 4.15.10 have been met, the following success standards <br />will be used: <br />New Horizon Mine 1 <br />1. Cover - Reclaimed areas will be compared to the established <br />reference area or a technical standard of 43.9 percent ground <br />cover (vegetation and litter) depending on whether the area has <br />been previously mined or not. <br />2. Production - Reclaimed areas will be compared to Soil <br />Conservation Service potential productivity values (technical <br />standards) for Shavano (500 lbs.lac.> or Persayo (250 lbs./ac.> <br />soil series depending on end land use. <br />-20- <br />