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<br /> <br />Attachment 3 - Bear Mine No. 1 and No. 2 Narrative <br />Evaluation of Compliance <br />On July 23, 1992, Steve Shuey and Teny Waldron of the Division of Minerals and <br />Geology sampled the vegetative cover on the reclaimed areas of Bear Mine No.1 <br />and No. 2. Twelve parallel transects, spaced •'_00 feet apart, were laid out <br />from permit boundary to permit boundary at a fifteen degrees North-Northwest <br />direction (See Attachment 1). The angle of the transects across the north <br />facing ;lope assured that they would not coincide with only rills or other <br />erosional patterns. Two cover data points were recorded every two meters <br />along the variable length transects using an ocular point frame developed by <br />ESCO Associates. <br />Systematic Sampling was used in order to obtain a representative sample of the <br />complete reclaimed area. Sample adequacy was not a concern for two reasons. <br />first, the systematics of this sampling method ensure a representative sample <br />of the whole site. Second, this sampling exercise is a check on the accuracy <br />of the operators random sampling in the 10th year of bond liability. <br />Since the operator has not yet sampled these sites this year, comparisons will <br />be made to the 9th year sampling report for these same areas. <br />Observations: <br />- An effective stand of perennial vegetation has ben established. <br />- No evidence of wind or water erosion was noted. <br />- Few annuals or weedy species were present. One noxious weed, Field <br />bindweed (Convolvus arvense), was noted on occasion at the east end <br />of Mine No. 2. <br />- Woody Stems are present in fair numbers even though there are no <br />~,vccdy stem density standards for these reclaimed areas. <br />- Perennial, non-noxoious vegetative cover was sampled at 37.8%. <br />While this is not in excess of the 40% vegetative cover standard <br />set for Bear No. 1 and No. 2, it is in excess of 90% of that <br />standard as required for release of liablility pursuant to Rule <br />4.15.8(3)(a). <br />- Species diversity standards are also met using the single hit data <br />recorded while sampling the cover transact. This method is mere <br />conservative than the multiple hit method usually used for these <br />measurements. The species dive-sit- standard calls for at least <br />two cool season grasses and one forb species, each of which <br />comprise greater than 3% but no more than 60% relative cover. <br />Combined relative corer for these species cannot exceed 80%. <br />The cover transect data shows ten species that meet the criteria for <br />individual species. <br />