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data; and the baseline data from an adjacent proposed mine (Sackett Mining <br />Company's Shalako Mine, permit application 79-4 UG/C) which exhibited similar <br />environmental characteristics. National King Coal accepted the Division's <br />recommendations. <br />During the permit renewal, the Division reviewed the re vegetation success <br />criteria. Since the permit application document for the King Coal Mine was <br />approved, the Division has been analyzing data pertaining to species <br />diversity. Based on this analysis, the Division and National King Coal <br />believed a change in the species diversity criteria was in order. The <br />Division reaffirms the success criteria for cover, production and shrub <br />density, and modifies the criteria for species diversity as addressed below. <br />A. Cover - The standard for herbaceous cover is 30 percent to be <br />measured either by ocular estimates using a minimum 1/2 M2 <br />quadrat or by the point-intercept method. <br />B. Production - The standard for herbaceous productivity is 500 pounds <br />per ac r2 of d~ biomass measured by the harvest method using a <br />minimum 1/2 M quadrat. <br />C. Shrub Density - The standard for woody plant density is a minimum <br />600 stems per acre. <br />D. Species Diversity - The standard for species diversity using the <br />species compos Lion approach is as follows. <br />Species Requirements* <br />Grasses <br />Cool Season 2 <br />Warm Season 2 <br />Forbs 2 <br />Shrubs 2 <br />*No single species shall be represented by more than 40 percent relative <br />cover or less than 3 percent relative cover for grass species; or less <br />than 1 percent relative cover for forb and shrub species. <br />The operation is in compliance with the requirements of this section. <br />XIII. Fish and Wildlife - Rules 2.04.11, 2.05.6(2) and 4.18 <br />Information pertaining to fish and wildlife is presented in Section 2.04.11 of <br />the permit application. <br />National King Coal contacted the local office of the Colorado Division of <br />Wildlife requesting their assistance in assessing any potential impacts the <br />mining operation may have on wildlife. A copy of the Division of Wildlife's <br />response is found in Section 2.04.11 page 3. <br />The general area of the mine site is considered critical deer winter range. <br />However, it is the Division of Wildlife's opinion that, because of the long <br />history of mining in the area, many of the impacts to wildlife have already <br />-18- <br />