GENERAL51479 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

-52- Stipulation No. 21: A. WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PERMIT ISSUANCE, THE PERMITTEE SHALL SUBMIT TO THE DIVISION FOR APPROVAL A REVISION CONTAINING A PLAN FOR THE SAMPLING OF COVER, PRODUCTION, SPECIES COMPOSITION AND WOODY PLANT DENSITY IN BOTH THE AFFECTED AND REFERENCE AREAS OF THE PONDEROSA PINE-OAK, PONDEROSA PINE-0AK-DOUGLAS FIR, AND WILLOW CARR VEGETATION COMMUNITIES, IF THESE COMMUNITIES ARE DETERMINED TO BE MAJOR COMMUNITIES UNDER INFORMATION PROVIDED IN CONJUNCTION WITH STIPULATION NO. 20. AFTER DIVISION APPROVAL THE PERMITTEE SHALL CONDUCT THE APPROVED SAMPLING DURING THE NEXT GROWING SEASON. RESULTS SHALL BE SUBMITTED TO THE DIVISION WITHIN THIRTY DAYS OF COMPLETION OF SAMPLING. B. THE PERMITTEE WILL DEMONSTRATE THE EQUIVALENCE OF THE REFERENCE AREAS TO THE RESPECTIVE AFFECTED AREAS PRIOR TO RELEASE FROM THE OBLIGATIONS OF THIS STIPULATION. The applicant has proposed using the grassland reference area at the Maxwell Mine for setting the revegetation success standard for grassland communities at the Allen Mine. The Division has determined that the sampling of the Maxwell Mine grassland community (affected and reference areas), with the exception of woody plant density, met statistical sample adequacy. It was determined that the reference area and the affected areas were not statistically equivalent for cover and production. However, mean values for vegetative cover and herbaceous production were greater for the reference area in both cases. The division will waive the requirement for equivalence if the applicant will accept the higher standards of the reference area at the Maxwell Mine for reclamation of grassland areas at the Allen Mine. In accordance with Rule 4.15.7(3), the following stipulation is added: Stipulation No. 22: WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PERMIT ISSUANCE, THE PERMITTEE WILL INDICATE TO THE DIVISION, IN WRITING, WHETHER THE STANDARDS FOR COVER AND PRODUCTION ON THE GRASSLAND REFERENCE AREA ARE ACCEPTABLE, OR WHETHER THE PERMITTEE WILL RESAMPLE AFFECTED AND REFERENCE AREAS FOR THE GRASSLAND COMMUNITY TO IDENTIFY AN EQUIVALENT REFERENCE AREA. IF THE PERMITTEE ELECTS TO RESAMPLE, A SAMPLING PLAN SHALL BE REQUIRED WITHIN 60 DAYS OF PERMIT ISSUANCE, TO BE SUBMITTED AS A REVISION, TO BE IMPLEMENTED DURING THE NEXT GROWING SEASON. The applicant has provided little detail within the proposed revegetation plan. Specific infonmation is lacking regarding seeding schedules, mulching application, use of herbicides and pesticides, use of irrigation, and specific criteria for the evaluation of revegetation success. It is therefore stipulated in order to comply with Rule 4.15: