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• 2.05.4(2)(e) <br />The Operator must determine the vegetation success of the Juniper Woodland <br />and Mixed Shrub revegetated areas for cover and production by comparing the <br />vegetation on the revegetated areas to reference areas. As part of the <br />adequacy review, the Division stated (page 25, May 31, 1996 preliminary <br />adequacy review) "It may be more appropriate to assign a technical standard at <br />some point in the future. The Division is currently working on developing a <br />method to calculate technical standards and when this becomes available, the <br />applicant may want to apply for a revision to develop a technical standard that <br />will more realistically represent the reclamation community that is likely to <br />result." Until the DMG's regulations are changed to allow for application of a <br />technical standard to replace a reference area comparison, the applicant <br />accepts the DMG's proposal of a weighted average comparison method of <br />determining success for the areas seeded with the upland seed mix. <br />The species diversity standard for disturbed areas seeded with the upland seed <br />mix will be as follows. At least four perennial species will have a relative cover <br />between 3% and 47%. Of these species, at least one will be a forb or shrub <br />species. Applicable perennial grasses will be cool season species. <br />No reference area was established for the Disturbed Meadow community for <br />• two main reasons. First, the community was unique to the proposed disturbed <br />area in the general vicinity within the permit area. Second, it was determined <br />during reconnaissance and confirmed during sampling that a large portion of <br />the vegetation (>50%) was comprised of either annual or noxious weeds. The <br />Disturbed Meadow had an absolute cover of 35.3% contributed by perennial, <br />non-noxious species. The Operator proposes that a technical standard of <br />35.3% cover be applied to reclaimed areas mapped as Disturbed Meadow. <br />Based on the baseline data, perennial, non-noxious species contributed 1602 <br />Ibs/acre of dry weight production to the overall value. A technical standard of <br />1602 Ibs/acre is therefore proposed as the production standard for the <br />Disturbed Meadow area. <br />The species diversity standard will be based on the Disturbed Meadow data in <br />that two perennial, non-noxious species will be present that have a relative <br />cover exceeding 3%. <br />Since the intent of the revegetation plan is to balance the grass forage <br />production against the shrub cover needs of wildlife, no woody stem density <br />success criteria shall apply to any of the reclaimed areas. <br />Revegetation success standards for vegetation communities disturbed at the <br />loadout are presented in the February 2001 Baseline Vegetation Inventory in <br />Volume III, Tab 5. <br />~J <br />PR-06 <br />2.05 - 56 - <br />08/01 <br />/~PP,eavE~ <br />~ ~l5/o i. <br />