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Reference area comparison will be employed when considering <br />reclamation success with production and cover measurements. <br />Reference areas have been selected for both the mine site and the <br />tipple and have been approved by the Division. Success standards <br />have been selected and supported with literature citations. The <br />Division has approved a woody plant density standard of 2,000 <br />stems/acre to apply to both the tipple area and the mine site. the <br />Division approved separate success standards for the mine site and <br />the tipple area. As noted on page 816-157b of the permit <br />application, "species diversity on the reclaimed areas at the Kerr <br />Tipple will be deemed to have been successfully accomplished when <br />the three dominant plant species on the reclaimed area account for <br />at least 54% of the plant composition and do not account for more <br />than 75X of the plant composition, provided that at least one of <br />the three dominant plant species is a forb and that none of the <br />three dominant plant species comprise less than three percent of <br />the total plant composition." According to a Kerr letter of <br />2/22/82, species diversity of the Kerr Mine wi11 be considered a <br />success "...when reclaimed areas compose no more than 83Y of the <br />species composition and no single species composes more than 40X of <br />the species composition." <br />The Division proposes to approve the basis for this comparison. <br />The Division proposes to approve of the reference areas which the <br />applicant has selected based on the requirements of Rule 4.15.7(3). <br />The reference areas will be utilized to determine cover and <br />productivity success of reclaimed area in a manner which the <br />Division finds acceptable [4.15.7(4)1. <br />Based on information submitted by Kerr Coal on pages 780-78bbb to <br />780-78eee, the woody plant density standard is 2,000 stems/acre <br />[4.15.8(3) and (4)]. <br />VII. Protection of Fish, Wildlife and Related Environmental Values <br />The applicant has proposed the use of persistent pesticides on the <br />site during mining and/or reclamation operations. The Division <br />proposes to approve this usage. (4.18(4)(8)). <br />VIII. Operations on Alluvial Valley Floors Rules 2.06.8, 4.24 <br />Identification of Alluvial Valley Floors <br />The applicant has identified five areas within or adjacent to the mine plan <br />area, and one area within or adjacent to the loadout, which meet the <br />geomorphic criteria of alluvial valley floors. Deposits of unconsolidated <br />alluvial materials were identified along the Illinois River, the Canadian <br />River, Bolton Draw, Bush Draw, Williams Draw, and Sudduth Draw <br />(Maps Sa and 15a). <br />