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a) Much of the content of Section 2.05.4(2)(e)(vi) of the <br />application, including page 133, 134, parts of 135, and the various <br />figures and tables between page 135a and 136 relate to "baseline" <br />sampling conducted in the summer of 1981, which was largely <br />supplanted by more intensive data collected in 1983, and which was <br />not used to establish standards of success. This information <br />should be removed from the reclamation plan section of the <br />application and placed in the baseline vegetation section or in an <br />appendix. <br />b) The findings document states that, because the surface <br />disturbance area at Red Canyon qualifies as "previously mined <br />land", vegetation ground cover is the only success criterion which <br />can be applied. A success standard of 26$ cover is specified, <br />based on vegetation data collected in 1983 within two parcels of <br />sagebrush habitat adjacent to the mine. The 1983 study is included <br />as Appendix F of the application. The findings further states that <br />the sampling method used in the 1983 study (line intercept with <br />measurements made to the nearest centimeter along 10 meter randomly <br />located transects) would be used for demonstrations of revegetation <br />success. <br />The cover success standard and use of the line intercept sampling <br />technique, if indeed proposed to be used for success <br />demonstrations, should be set forth in the appropriate section of <br />the reclamation plan. It is noted that the most recent cover <br />sampling conducted on the reclaimed area was done in 1992, and <br />reported in Appendix H. Cover was estimated by a point intercept <br />technique, rather than a line intercept technique in that study. <br />In order to ensure consistency in comparisons between reclaimed and <br />undisturbed areas, if point intercept sampling is to be used for <br />future bond release demonstrations, the sagebrush parcels sampled <br />in the 1983 study would need to be sampled concurrently with <br />reclamation sampling, and the reclamation plan would need to <br />include this commitment. <br />c) The application does not contain the required description of <br />statistical tests of success. Unless a more specific proposal is <br />desired, it is recommended that the following commitment be <br />included in the appropriate section of the reclamation plan: <br />For demonstration of revegetation success, vegetation <br />cover will be sampled to statistical adequacy, and <br />compared to the approved standard. Statistical adequacy <br />will be demonstrated using formulas recommended in the <br />Division's current bond release guideline. Statistical <br />tests of success will also follow the procedures <br />recommended in the bond release guideline. <br />8 <br />