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. Results <br />Field Samptiug Dates. All of the data utilized in this evaluation were collected between July I S <br />and July 31, 2006. At the time of the field sampling, all of the plants were actively growing and <br />it is believed that the sampling was performed close to the period of optimum plant growth, <br />when the plant cover and production were near their peak. A total of 75 plant species were <br />identified in the 75 cover transects and 90 shrub density lransects sampled in this evaluation. A <br />list of all of the plarrt species encourrtered in the field sampling efforts in this evaluation is <br />presented in Table 1, Matt Mine Plant Species Lisle <br />Sample Adequacy. A statistical analysis of the data collected to characterize the plant cover, <br />production, and shrub density is presented in Table 2, Marr Mine Sample Adequacy <br />Calculations. This comparison documents that a sufficient number of samples were collected to <br />describe the parameters of "total" plant cover, herbaceous production and shrub density at the 90 <br />percent confidence interval or until the required reverse null standard was satisfied as required <br />by the Division's Regulations for all of the areas evaluated. <br />Transect Locations. All of the cover, production and shrub density transects sampled in this <br />evaluation are shown on the enclosed maps. The specific details corresponding to each <br />reclamation area or reference area sampled will be discussed in connection with the discussion <br />pertaining to each site. <br />• BIG SAGEBRUSH REFERENCE AREA <br />Cover. Total plant cover on this site averaged 35.13 percent and litter averaged 30.74 percent <br />(Table 3, Big Sagebrush Reference Any -Plant Cover.) These values correspond with a cover <br />value of 35.80 percent and litter averaged 39.07 obtained from the 2005 sampling. <br />When this site was sampled in 1980 total plant cover averaged 44.9 percent as found in Table 21 <br />of the Permit. In 1996, RMR reported an average plant cover value of 46.08 percent, while in <br />1999, ESCO reported that the total wver on this site averaged 45.4 percent. However, <br />comparison of their maps documents that they only sampled the east half of this reference area <br />and not the entire footprint of the reference area as showp on Map 18, Vegetation Map. By <br />sampling only the lower portions of the reference area, the plant cover vahies would obviously <br />be higher. <br />Shrubs dominated the plant cover on this site in the 2006 sampling, contributing 20.20 percent of <br />the total cover or 57.50 percent of the total relative cover on this reference area. Perennial <br />grasses comn'buted a total of I0.47 percent of the total cover and 29.78 percent of the total <br />relative cover on this site. Perennial forts contn'buted a total of 3.87 percent or 11.01 percent of <br />the total relative cover on this site. <br />Wyoming Big Sagebrush was the dominant plant growing on this site, contributing a total of <br />4b.87 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Prairie Junegrass, Douglas Rabbitbnrsh, <br />• 6 <br />