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Proposed Revised Vegetation Success Criteria (Includes 2002 Revision) As pointed out in the Matt Hayes letter, the acreage of the upper portal bench area to be studied for revegetation - 1.21 acres, and the yard area - 2.36 acres, is so small that it is not possible to accurately divide consider them as separate sample areas. For this reason, the new standard will apply to both areas. The rule under which this application is made to change the standard is Rule 4.15.7 (d)(ii). In this instance, the technical document upon which [he standards would be based would be Mr. Davey's letter recommending changes in the standards. Herbaceous Cover: 42% Herbaceous Productivity: 900 lbsjacre Species Diversity: see below: j, Due to the desires of [he landowner to initially plant only three species in the yard area, and the conditions of the site described earlier, it has not been possible that the site achieve a highly varied species diversity. For this reason, it is unrealistic that the species diversity standard shown on page 184-10 be considered attainable. Mr. Pat Davey of the local SCS office in Steamboat Springs has included a letter in May of 2002 stating that a modification of the species diversity standard on the site to that shown below is appropriate for this site, given the initial landowner desires and seed mix. Also, the change in no way will affect the post-mining land use of the site. The landowner has also written a letter supporting the change in species diversity. Both of these letters are enclosed later in this section. Therefore, the new proposed standard is as follows: Using relative cover or production values for each species, the reclaimed areas will have at least 3 perennial species with relative importance equal to or greater than 3%, but with all 3 species combined not to exceed 92% in relative importance. Any one of the 3 species cannot exceed in relative importance. Relative importance means the % cover of the perennial species will be compared to the % cover of all species except noxious weeds. The basis for the changes in species diversity standard are also given in the second Matt Q Hayes letter enclosed in this section and the second letters from Pat Davey and the landowner Bernard Knott in 2002. Shrub Density: The landowner has requested that no shrubs be planted on the reclaimed area. Since he has requested this and the post-mining land use of grazingjwildlife habitat will be enhanced by an open area, no further woody plant density information is needed. The adjacent area is characterized by dense shrub communities which will provide sufficient cover and edge effect for wildlife. The reclaimed area will provide herbaceous forage with preferred browse species. TR May 2002 184-14