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1.2 Background and Standards for Success Prior to the meeting between the applicant and DMG on June 16, 2000, permit documents indicated that the majority of the North Thompson Creek Mine was not subject to current Colorado Rules and Regulations owing to the age of the operation. Furthermore, there existed confusion as to whether or not the remaining portion of the disjunct loadout corridor had actually been released from final liability. And finally, the indicated land use of the loadout corridor (irrigated cropland) appeared to no longer be applicable owing to the rapid encroachment of housing developments along the Crystal River and the existence of an appazenUy permanent access road along the corridor. Therefore, it was agreed during the meeting of June 16'", to sample all revegetated areas as a single unit under the most recent guidelines developed by the State. By inducting all areas wthin the "universe" to be sampled under a more rigorous set of guidelines, a reasonable compromise was reached that is ecologically appropriate. The revegetated areas, that are the subject of this evaluation, were seeded on or before 1991 in accordance with permitting requirements and landowner desires. These areas have developed into a mid-seral heterogeneous community dominated by a variety of grasses, forts and shrubs. Wrth the exception of the loadout area, livestock grazing is the primary post-mining land use, with wildl'rfe habitat as a secondary and incidental use. The applicant will utilize the herbaceous strata within the extended reference azea for the determination of adequate ground cover and production as detailed in the next section. The location of this reference area is that portion of the permit area which has not been disturbed by previous mine- related activities, exhibits a Mountain Brush dry-phase community, is accessible, does not e#tibR a barren understory, and consists of approximately 62 acres (see Map 1). However, for the variable of spades composition (diversity), the applicant will utilize the agreed upon technical standards. Woody plant density is not applicable to this area. Reference area comparisons and standards are as follows: Reference Area Comparisons and Technical Standards Perennial Ground Cover Currerd Annual Perennial Production Woody PIaM Density Diversity Standard 90% of 90% of NA 4 Perennial Species w/between Extended Extended 3 & 60% Relative Cover Reference Area Reference Area At least 2 must be grasses and 1 a fort or shrub) 6..~~ Qa61~S ~'Q.~~il'Ir®, rr+c. Page 3 North Thompson Creek Mines Phase II & III Bond Release Evaluation