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was conducted in 1986 at the Bowie No. 1 West Mine. Due to the small acreage disturbed (12 <br />acres), no reference areas were established. However, vegetation success standards were <br />developed specific to this site from the study. <br />Vegetation on the areas affected by this mine is characterized by pinon juniper stands, mixed <br />mountain shrub lands, oakbrush shrub lands, and orchard land. The pinon-juniper type is the <br />most extensive vegetation type disturbed covering 8l of the 144 total disturbed acres. A total of <br />10.1 acres of the mixed shrub land type has been disturbed. <br />From the four vegetation studies, no proposed or listed threatened or endangered plant species of <br />Federal or state concern were identified. Therefore, pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(20(n), the Division <br />finds that mining activities will not affect the existence of or result in the destruction of adverse <br />modification of endangered or threatened species or their critical habitats, respectively. <br />The approved permanent seed mix (pages 70-71, Part 2.05) proposes 28 different grass, forb and <br />shrub species. Each year the operator proposes to seed a minimum of 1 I species -six grasses and <br />five forbs. Four of the grass species and two of the forb species will be used every year with the <br />other five species coming from the remaining 22 proposed species. A variety of species are <br />included in this list to allow the operator to select species based upon availability and cost. The <br />permanent seed mix will be used for all areas except the orchard area, which will be planted to <br />apples, peaches, and some cherries at the rate and spacing addressed on pages 30 and 31 of the <br />1981 vegetation study (Vegetation Appendix of Volume 9A) when topsoil piles that will not be <br />redistributed for five or more years shall be seeded with the proposed permanent seed mix <br />(excluding shrubs and trees), and not the temporary seed mix. <br />In 1986, the operator incorporated into the permit the 12-acre area of the Bowie No. 1 West <br />Mine. Because of differences between this area and areas previously disturbed, different success <br />criteria were developed as detailed below: <br />Bowie No. 1 Mine (except West Mine and Loadout Facility] <br />a. Total vegetation ground cover will exceed 40 percent. <br />b. Total above-ground herbaceous production will exceed 400 pounds per acre. <br />c. Woody plant density will equal or exceed 1,000 stems per acre. <br />d. Species diversity will consist of at least five (5) native perennial herbaceous species, <br />four (4) native cool season grasses, and one (1) native forb) having a relative cover or <br />production equal to or greater than 3 percent each, but combined will not exceed 90 <br />percent in relative cover or production and no one of the five species exceeding 60 <br />percent in relative importance. Also, at least two (2) native shrub species will be <br />established with no one species exceeding a relative density of 80 percent. <br />Bowie No. 1 West Mine <br />a. Total vegetation ground cover will be equal to or exceed 60 percent. <br />b. Total above-ground herbaceous production will be equal to or exceed 450 pounds per <br />acre. <br />34 <br />