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<br />for density of woody species, which are highly variable in both the <br />mountain brush and sagebrush communities. However, sampling was <br />adequate to determine differences in the means considerably less <br />than 10 percent in each case (see Tables 4 and 13 of the original <br />baseline inventory). Had the number of samples been fewer and <br />variances larger (but still within the 10 percent of z at 0.20 proba- <br />bility), the "t" values would have been smaller. Therefore, it is felt <br />that since the "t" values, for the most part, are small, the reference <br />areas are indeed comparable to the inventoried areas on the mine <br />lease. <br />In addition, similarity indices have been calculated comparing the <br />reference areas to the inventory areas for each community. The <br />results are given in Table 10. For comparisons of this type, a <br />similarity index greater than 0.5 is considered relatively indicative <br />of "similarity". The similarity index is calculated as follows: <br />S = 2W where <br />a + b <br />• <br />r\ <br />U <br />S = similarity index <br />b = number of species in the reference area <br />a = number of species in the inventoried area <br />W =number of species in common. <br />2. Two reference areas have been identified and sampled for both the Aspen <br />type and the Sagebrush type. The applicant should clarify how two reference <br />areas will be utilized for determination of revegetation success, and comparisons <br />with affected area data. <br />Two reference areas have been established for the vegetation types <br />because at the time the vegetation inventory was conducted it was <br />uncertain where mining disturbances would be taking place. We have <br />endeavored to demonstrate the comparability of each reference area <br />individually to the inventoried areas (see response to previous question), <br />so that either one or both reference areas for any type could be <br />used for sampling in determining revegetation success. <br />3. The total acreage disturbed and proposed for disturbance in each vegetation <br />type should be stated in the application. <br />2-85 <br />The following refer to com biped disturbed and proposed for disturbance <br />acreages for Pit 4 and the Pit 4 haul road: <br />Aspen <br />Mountain brush <br />Sagebrush <br />41.6 acres <br />64.5 acres <br />58.7 acres <br />II.J-27 <br />