PERMFILE120226

• Permit No: C1980006A
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 12/11/2001
• Doc Name: pg 780-66aa to 780-89
• Section_Exhibit Name: PART 780 Part 2
• Media Type: D
• Archive: Yes

Section 780.181b) Continued.
• reference area. It is impossible to predict the exact limits of reclamation at this time
and therefore determine exactly what areas will be amenable to this form of
evaluation. However, Kerr expects that instances where a specific reclaimed area
corresponds to a single predisturbance plant community and associated reference area
will be limited.
Due to the disturbance configuration and number of corresponding vegetation types
involved, Kerr will generally use the weighted average of reference area sample values
for total cover and herbaceous production as the reference area standard for
evaluation of revegetation success. In calculating the weighted average, the relative
acreages of each vegetation community disturbed will determine weighting factors.
The one exception to the use of postmining reference area sampling data in calculating
a weighted average reference area standard is the Salt Flat vegetation type. Because
this vegetation type occupies such a limited area and disturbance of this type was
anticipated to be minimal, no reference area was established. In any areas where the
Salt Flat type is disturbed, cover and production baseline data for this type will be
used in lieu of reference area data and actual disturbance acreage will be used as a
weighting factor, as previously discussed.
Revegetation Success Criteria
Revegetation success criteria for cropland and previously mined lands will not apply to
lands within the Kerr permit area. Kerr will utilize revegetation success criteria based
on vegetation sampling data from approved reference areas or from approved technical
standards to evaluate ultimate reclamation success for all reclaimed areas as described
in the preceding section.
Baseline plant cover and production data were collected and reclamation success was
to originally be evaluated on the basis of total plant cover and production. These were
the criteria applicable at the time the original data were collected and the original
permit approved. Review however, of subsequent revisions to MLRD regulations,
further examination of long-term plant successional data from the 30 disturbed sites,
and considerations related to reduction of the abnormally high premining shrub
densities indicate that the original goals may not be realistic. Examination of the
reference area cover and production values presented in Section 2.04.10, Vegetation
Information, and in Table 47, Disturbed Area Production, Cover and Composition by
Life Form and
TR-19 780-85 Revised 12/99