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13. A technical revision approved in 1993 resulted insignificant modification to the <br />seedmix, and as a result Seneca no longer anticipates extensive use of supplemental <br />species on an annual basis. Stipulaion 13, which addressed supplemental seed mix <br />components, is no longer necessary. If and when species substitutions aze made in the <br />future, they will be handled as minor revisions, with the complete seedmix used in each <br />reclaimed area to be listed in the Annual Reclamation Report. A minor revision (MR-50) <br />approved in 1999 resulted in modifications to the seedmix and revegetation monitoring <br />program. <br />In addition, several introduced species have been proposed in the seed mixes. The <br />proposed introduced species aze compatible with the plant and animal species of the <br />region and may be necessary for the approved post-mining land use. <br />As stated on page 20 of the original Seneca R fmdings document (August 10, 1981), <br />"Peabody has committed to submit to the Division an annual planning map for the <br />reclamation to be done for a particulaz yeaz showing the approximate location of the <br />shrub and aspen plantings." The annual submittal of this map will continue for the <br />duration of this germit renewal period. <br />To evaluate reclamation success, Seneca Coal Company has committed to a qualitative <br />and quantitative monitoring program outlined on pages 13-32 of the permit application. <br />Qualitative evaluations will be carried out annually during the growing season while <br />quantitative measurements will be carried out on years 2, 4 and 7 following initial <br />seeding. The data and results from this monitoring program will be submitted to the <br />Division by the Mazch 30 filing of the Annual Reclamation Report. <br />No proposed or listed threatened or endangered plant species have been identified on or <br />adj_acent_to the. Seneca II Mine site. Thane-fare,-the-Division finds chat the mirring - <br />activities will not affect the continued existence of threatened or endangered plant species <br />or result in the destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitats. <br />Revegetation success criteria, monitoring plans and methods of comparison for testing <br />revegetation success are addressed in Volume 12, Tab 13. Cover and production success <br />for the major mine azea vegetation communities will be based on weighted average <br />reference area comparisons as described on pages 13-35 of Tab 13. The cover standazd <br />for none area reclamation will be based on adjusted weighted average reference azea <br />herbaceous cover from the mountain brush reference azea and the sagebrush reference <br />azea. The reference areas will be added and the herbaceous cover value will be doubled <br />to set the success standard. For the mine area vegetation this adjustment is deemed <br />appropriate, because unadjusted reference azea herbaceous cover in the mine azea <br />vegetation types would be insufficient to control erosion; whereas use of total cover <br />would result in a standazd unlikely to be achieved for decades, given the dense canopy <br />associated with late successional shrub communities in the mine azea. <br />36 <br />