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reclaimed plant communi ties will to dominated b <br />stabilizin <br />herbaceous ve <br />etation which • <br /> y <br />g g <br />most probably represents early t.o mid-level successional vegetation stages of native <br />undisturbed communities. Standards, therefore, must be derived which not only take into <br />account pceminl ng native vegetation conditions, but also consider the inherent reclaimed <br />community charactexl stirs cesultlrig from these applied technologies and the successional <br />time frames and community development levels achievable in reclaimed areas Sn the semla rid <br />west after a minimum of ten years. <br />For [he mine area, the four dominant affected types Sn the permit area include aspen <br />woodland, mountain blush, sagebrush, and steep mountain brush. These types are well ~ <br />i <br />I <br />distributed across the undisturbed north, east, south, and west portions of the mine <br />permit area. After careful consldera tlon for maximum life-of-mine disturbance impacts, <br />the following minimum acreages of the three ma]or upland types will be available £or <br />comparison sampling: aspen •+oodland - 100 acres, mountain blush - 600 acres, and <br />sagebrush - 200 acres. A minimurt~ of eight acres will remain undisturbed for the mesic <br />drainage and improved pasture-subi rcigated types. These acreages represent the minimum <br />acreages to be used; however, whenever possible, comparisons will consider the maximum • <br />undisturbed area ava liable at any given time as the sampling universe. These types will <br />serve as the basis for developing weighted averages for cover and production comps ri suns. <br />Statistical Tes ti no [o Demonstrate Revegetation Success. Statistical testing will be used <br />when the parameter sample mean for the reclaimed release area is less than 90 percent of <br />the standard. In this case, hypothesis testing will be used to demonstrate the difference <br />is not statistically significant. A one-sample T-test will be used in the hypothesis <br />testing. Hypothesis testing, as well as the sample adequacy formulas to be used when <br />hypothesis testing is required or when parameter estimation alone is sufficient, will be <br />consistent with the Division's April 1995 Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mlne Bond <br />Release Issues or [he current guideline In effect at the time of a bond release <br />application. The parameters to be tested for revegetation success are cover, production, <br />and woody plan[ density. <br />Cover. For the shrub gras Bland type Sn the reclaimed mine area, successful revegetation <br />for the parameter of cover will be evaluated as follows. Cover data will be collected <br />from the above tour described vegetation types within the designated extended reference • <br />38 Revised 12/12/95 <br />