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• At the time of the baseline survey, the mine was in operation and all presently <br />reclaimed areas were disturbed. Therefore, the mined areas could not be sampled to <br />match them to a reference area directly. As a result, the baseline survey assumed that <br />areas adjacent to the mine site approximated mine site baseline conditions. A reference <br />area was only required for the Mountain Shrubland Dry Phase vegetation community, <br />and adjacent ("affected") areas were sampled to allow a reference area comparison to <br />be made. Page 19 of the 1980 report states "Although statistically comparable, <br />vegetative cover is slightly higher in the reference area (60.0 percent cover) than the <br />affected area (49.0 percent cover)." Page 21 reiterates this, stating "The reference area <br />is statistically comparable to the affected area with respect to cover and production in <br />the mountain shrubland -dry phase." Surprisingly, in spite of the obvious disparity in <br />the average cover values, the baseline adjacent ("affected") area and the reference areas <br />match at 90% statistical conFidence (see Table 13). However, even though they match, <br />• the difference in their cover values is significant with regard to achieving reclamation <br />success. It is believed that the baseline data was collected prior to when the extended <br />reference azea concept was developed (although the regulations have never prohibited <br />extended reference areas). Therefore, it is proposed that the undisturbed areas within <br />the permit area that are classified as belonging to the Mountain Shrubland -Dry Phase <br />community (which includes the presently accepted reference area) be used as an <br />extended reference area for the disturbed mine areas. This suggestion was initially <br />discussed with Larry Routten of CMLRD. Assuming that this change would be <br />accepted, the proposed extended reference area was sampled to enable a comparison <br />with the reclaimed areas. <br />In accordance with the Division's Vegetation Guidelines (Guidelines for <br />. ~Aliance with Land Use and Vegetation Requirements of the Colorado Mined Land <br />3 <br />