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Proposed Revised Vegetation Success Criteria 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 the standards would be based would be Mr. Davey's letter recommending changes in the standards. Herbaceous Cover: 42% Herbaceous Productivity: 900 lbs/acre Species Diversity: see below: Due to the desires of the landowner to initially plant only three species in the yard area, it has not been possible that the site achieve a varied species diversity. For this reason, i[ 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 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 species combined not to exceed 92% in relative importance. Any one of the 3 species cannot exceed 70% 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 change in species diversity standard is also given in the second Matt Hayes letter enclosed in this section. 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 grazing/wildlife 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. 184-14 ~, 8 + 0~