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The applicant has proposed to use a reference area for the success standard in <br />the Williams Fork Strip Pit. A statistical comparison will be made between - <br />the reference area and the reclaimed area for cover and production. Woody <br />plant density will be a minimum of 1,000 stems per acre and species diversity <br />will be measured using the Shannon-Weiner index. On areas of the strip pit <br />which had been disturbed prior to May 3, T978 the standard will be a <br />vegetative cover of 30 percent or greater (based on vegetation sampling of <br />this area prior to redisturbance). In addition to this standard, a letter <br />from the local Soil Conservation Service {SCS) office or other reclamation <br />experts stating "The revegetated areas are capable of being utilized per their _ <br />post-mining land use", will serve as documentation that the area has been <br />successfully revegetated. These are acceptable standards. <br />Reclamation success standards will be developed for the cropland and hayiands <br />based on the historical production record. Five years of production data has <br />been collected (Table 69 and 70, pages 2.05.4-26 and 2.05.4.30). Once 90 <br />percent of the historic production record with a 90 percent statistical <br />confidence is achieved, the area wil] be ,judged successfully reclaimed. These <br />are acceptable standards. <br />Many areas of surface disturbance within the Eagle Mines permit area were <br />disturbed by operations previous to the currently permitted Eagle No. 5, 5A <br />and 9 Mine works, Pursuant to Rule 4,15.10, standards in previously mined <br />areas shall not be less than the minimum ground cover existing before <br />redisturbance. <br />Areas which fall under this category are shown on the Reclamation Plan Map, <br />No. 29. fiese areas will be deemed successfully revegetated when the cover of <br />perennial species on these areas is 30 percent or greater. This is based on <br />the cover data obtained during the 1983 sampling period on a previously <br />disturbed area near the No. 5A portal and an old reclaimed surface mine. The <br />survey data is given in Section 2.04.10, pages 2.04.10-]0 through 2.04.10-24. <br />Based upon a review of this data, these are acceptable standards. <br />On the remainder of the permit area, including the waste disposal area, a17 <br />areas not under cropland, hayland or previously disturbed areas (Pre May 3, <br />1978), the applicant proposes to utilize a reference area methodology. <br />Statistical comparisons will be made between approved reference areas and the <br />reclaimed areas. <br />If the comparison indicate that herbaceous cover and production of the <br />reclaimed areas are within 90 percent of the reference areas and within 80 <br />percent of statistical confidence reclamation will be considered;successful. <br />The Shanon-Wiener diversity index will be used to measure diversity. A <br />variance from reference area standards for shrub density is approved. The <br />shrub standard on these areas will be 1,000 shrub stems per acre. <br />Empire Energy Corporation proposes to place two feet of non-toxic cover on the <br />coal processing waste pile (pg: 2.05.4-18R). Rule 4.10.4{4)~requires that <br />"Following grading of the coal processing waste bank, the site shall be <br />covered with a minimum of 4 feet of the best available non-toxic and <br />non-combustable material in accordance with 4.06.2------. The Division may <br />allow Tess than 4 feet of cover based on physical and chemical analyses which <br />-51- <br />