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Northfield Permi[ Application <br />Vegetation Information -Rule 2.04.10 <br />October 10, 2007 <br />2 <br />24. Previously, NP provided an updated vegetation map, Map 3, prepazed in accordance with <br />Rule 2.10, which delineated the plant communities with the azea to be affected by surface <br />activities for underground mines. <br />In this submittal, NP submitted an acceptable vegetation baseline survey and report. In <br />this report, NP is proposing the use of reference areas. The reference azeas need to be <br />delineated on Map 3. Please revise Map 3 to include the reference area locations. <br />25. NP provided a vegetation survey that was completed during the past summer. The <br />consultant did an excellent job sampling the azea. The vegetation is cleazly described with <br />well documented supporting data. Two communities, juniper grassland and disturbed, <br />were identified and adequately sampled for cover, production and woody plant density. <br />A reference area was established for each community and shown to be a statistically valid <br />comparison with the areas to be disturbed. Each community and reference area were <br />sampled to achieve a statistically adequate sample at the 90% confidence level or until 50 <br />samples were obtained, the maximum number recommended by the Division. The <br />recently collected information needs to be included in the narrative of the pertnit <br />application. <br />Please revise Section 2.04.10 of the permit to describe the vegetation communities <br />sampled and the data collected during the summer of 2007. A summary of the <br />information in Exhibit J is acceptable with a reference to the full report. <br />26. NP is proposing to use ajuniper-grassland reference area and a disturbed azea reference <br />area to establish revegetation success. The juniper-grassland is dominated by One-seeded <br />juniper with an understory of Blue grama grass and Red three-awn grass. The `disturbed' <br />area community is located in areas that were previoouly disturbed by several different <br />activities. The dominant plant growing on this area is Skunkbrush sumac. Bush <br />eriogonum, Blue grama grass, sand dropseed and storksbill were the other dominant <br />plants. To demonstrate revegetation success for cover, production and woody plant <br />density, NP plans io use a reference area. NP has demonstrated statistically that the <br />reference areas are comparable to the surface areas to be disturbed as required by Rule <br />4.15.7(3)(a) and (b). <br />The Revegetation Success Standazds Section, 2.05.4 is lacking some details regarding the <br />reference area and other requirements of Rule 4.15. The Division requests that the <br />information covered by this question be included in the text of Section 2.05.4 of the <br />permit. <br />Please address the following requirements of Rule 4.15.7 (3) and update Section <br />2.05.4 accordingly. <br />