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-39- Reclamation Success Criteria The proposed success criteria vary according to the planned post-mined land use. On the mine site this use is rangeland/wildlife habitat. At the load-out the majority of the land will be used as irrigated pastureland and hayland. The rest, approximately one acre, is to be reclaimed as dryland grassland. At the mine site the success criteria are different for each of the three parameters; herbaceous cover, herbaceous production, and woody plant density. For herbaceous cover, the reference area approach will be used. The revegetated area will be randomly sampled using methods established in the baseline inventory report. One or more of the approved, established reference areas will be similarly sampled. If upon comparison, using statistical methods approved by the Division at that time, the revegetated area is comparable to the reference area(s), the revegetated area will be considered successfully reclaimed for herbaceous cover. The proposed reclamation success criteria for herbaceous production at the mine site, is 464. lbs/acre, based upon production data provided in a publication by Cook & Bonham - Cook, C.W. and C.D. Bonham. 1977. Techniques for vegetation measurements and analysis fora pre- and post-mining inventory. Colorado State University. Range Science Department, Science Service Number 28. August. The applicant refers to this as a technical standard. The Division does not accept Cook and Bonham's data as a true technical standard for the mine site area. However, since the proposed standard is higher than the production determined during the baseline studies for either the affected or reference areas, the proposed standard is acceptable to the Oivision. The applicant has proposed a standard for woody plant density at the mine site based upon a 20% survival of the original planted density. However, the permit application does not state what the original planted density will be. Therefore, the Division cannot approve the projected standard. To ensure an acceptable standard the Division imposes the following Stipulation: Stipulation No. 4 WITHIN 90 DAYS AFTER PERMIT ISSUANCE, THE PERMITTEE MUST PROVIDE THE DIVISION WITH AN ACCEPTABLE SUCCESS CRITERIA STANDARD FOR SHRUB DENSITY AT THE MINE SITE. Section 4.15.8(5) of the Regulations requires a demonstration that adequate species diversity has been achieved on the revegetated area. The applicant has not addressed a success standard for species diversity. Therefore, the Division imposes the following Stipulation: