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12 <br />1995 exceeded that of the reference area at 89.95 g('/<41' (3242 lbs./acre). Production in the <br />North Block reclaimed area exceeded that of the acreage-weighted reference areas two-told. <br />Production was measured in the pasture reference area in two sampling periods in 1996. The <br />sampling periods coincided with the time of sampling of the two bond release Blocks. <br />Production on the North Block in 1996 was measured at 47.0 g/'/<M' (1698 lbs./acre). Reference <br />area biomass measured from July 17-23, 1996 coiricides with sampling of the North Block, with <br />a result of 23.54 g/''/~[vt' (850 lbs./acre). Production of the North Block in 1996 exceeded the <br />pasture reference area standard (Rule 4.15.8(3)(a)). <br />Reference area biomass measured from August 1, 1996 through August 5, 1996 coincided with <br />sampling of the South Block. Reference area biomass measured 30.39 g/''/,NI'' (1098 lbs./acre). <br />The South Block biomass measured 43.66 g/''/<M' (1577 lbs./acre). Productivity met the required <br />standard for the South Block for 1996. Production data collected on the South Block in 1997 <br />measured 56.36 g/'/<M' (203616s./acre), while the acreage-weighted productivity on the <br />reference areas for 1997 measured 42.31 g/'/<M' (1528 lbs./acre). The reclaimed South Block <br />exceeded the productivity standard of the acreage-weighted reference areas in both 1996 and <br />1997. (Rule 4.15.8(3)(a)). <br />Pre-mining productivity was based upon Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly the <br />Soil Conservation Service) range site descriptions (permit page 2.04-10). These descriptions <br />characterize average annual forage production for "normal" precipitation years to be azound 1550 <br />lbs./acre. Reclaimed aeeas have regained or exceeded the NRCS pre-mining production <br />estimates. <br />The vegetation diversity standard for the Energ}' Mine No. 3 permit is found on permit page <br />2.05-91. The diversity standard for the re-established pasture is, "perennial grasses shall <br />comprise a minimum of 25% relative production and alfalfa will not exceed 75% relative <br />production. No single species shall exceed 75% relative cover." This standard is applicable to <br />the post-mining land use of pasture and is in agreement with diversity requirements of <br />neighboring mines. (Rule 4.15.8(5)) <br />The vegetation diversity found on the reclaimed mine area meets the approved vegetation <br />standard. The North Block 1995 relative vegetative production was comprised of 86.3 <br />perennial grasses, 9.0 % alfalfa, with the remaining 4.7 % composed of various forbs. The most <br />abundant species on the North Block in the 1995 sampling was Smooth brome with 48 % relative <br />cover. No single species exceeded 75 % relative cover. The North Block 1996 vegetative <br />production data measured 85.9 % relative production composed of perennial grasses, 10.5 <br />consisting of alfalfa, with the remaining 3.6 % relative production comprised of perennial, annual <br />and biennial forbs. The most prevalent single species was Smooth brome with a relative cover of <br />57.4%. No single species exceeded 75 % relative cover. The data show that the diversity on the <br />reclaimed North Block meets the diversity standard for 1995 and 1996. <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Company: Mine No. 3. SLO'_ Findines 6/99 a.\COSd062\sL02rnd.doc <br />