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S <br />Reclamation success will be determined by comparison with associated reference <br />areas. Cover in the reclaimed aeeas will be estimated by the point-intercept <br />method and shall be deemed acceptable if it is greater or equal to 90% of the cover <br />in the appropriate reference azea with 90% statistical confidence. <br />Vegetation production will be measured by harvesting 1/2 m'- to 1 m'- plot:> in both <br />reclaimed and reference aeeas. If production in the reclaimed azea is 90% or more <br />of the associated reference azea at a 90% statistical confidence it shall be deemed <br />acceptable. <br />Neither dryland or improved pasture designations will be required to meet a <br />species diversity standazd since post operational land use will be for agricultural <br />use. The rangeland aeeas will be differentiated by either upland rangeland. or <br />lowland rangeland. Upland rangeland will establish 5 perennial grasses with 50% <br />or greater frequency each. Three of these grasses will contribute greater than 1% <br />relative cover. A minimum of two fortis will be established with an occurrence of <br />50% or greater. At least one shrub will be established with a frequency o1.' 10% or <br />greater. On lowland rangeland, six grasses shall be established each with 50% or <br />greater frequency (with four of the grasses contributing more than one percent <br />relative cover each). A minimum of one forb with greater than 50% frequ~:ncy will <br />be present in the lowland rangeland type. <br />Cool season species are expected to dominate due to the environmental conditions <br />of the permit azea. Species chosen in the seedmixes reflect cool season <br />adaptations. Three warm season species aze included in the rangeland misc. <br />Grazing will be permitted on the reclaimed aeeas with careful and proper <br />management. Fencing will be installed to reflect logical management units. <br />Based on the information in the rvgetation sections of the permit, the Division <br />makes the following findings. <br />The Division proposes to approve the use of introduced species in the: <br />reclamation seed mix. The applicant has submitted information which shows <br />that the introduced species aze desirable and necessary to achieve the approved <br />post-mining land use of range and wildlife use and that the introduced plants <br />are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2). <br />2. The Division proposes to approve the use of cover crops as a means to meet <br />soil stabilization requirements. (4.15.4) <br />3. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and <br />woody plant density aze discussed in Tab 20 of the permit application. These <br />techniques include the use of reference aeeas to set standazds for total cover, <br />herbaceous productivity and species diversity. The Division proposes to <br />approve these techniques (4.1 x.7(1)). <br />26 <br />