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the transect direction was detemrined by selecting a random direction based on the degrees of the compass (0 to 360.Once the transect orientation was determined, then the 50-meter tape was laid out across the site. All transects were kept within the sample unit boundaries. In situations where the transect placement resulted in the transect alignment crossing a sample unit boundary, the transect line was backed up for that portion of which crossed the boundary line 180 degrees. Where the 50.meter tape could not be placed within a nazrow reclaimed area due to boundary constraints, then the transect line was changed 90 degrees at the point where the boundary line was crossed to ensure that the entire transect alignment was located within the area to be sampled. Plant Cover. Plant cover was evaluated by sampling along an outstretched 50-meter transect tape. Along the outstretched tape, a total often previously identified and randomly selected intervals were selected as the sample locations for sampling. These ten points were then used as the sample locations for collecting plant cover. At each designated sample point, an inclined metal ten-point frame, one meter in height was positioned perpendicular to the tape and a sharpened metal rod was dropped. Each sampling point was sampled at ten-centimeter intervals along the ten-point frame. Even numbers were sampled on the right-hand side of the tape and odd numbers were sampled on the left-hand side of the tape. Each observation was recorded as to the specific plant species encountered as the rod was dropped. If no plant cover was encountered, then the observation was recorded as to the presence of plant litter, rock, bare ground, lichens or cryptograms. Plant material produced in the 2005 . growing season which was still attached to the plant was considered as living plant material and all plant material produced in prior years or which had fallen to the ground was considered to be littler. The 100 data points collected along each transect were then summarized into a single datum for purposes of statistical analysis. Absolute and relative plant cover, species diversity, and plant life forms were determined based upon the observations collected in sampling the plant wver. As outlined in the Kerr Permit and as approved by the Division, the plant cover standard at the Mazr Mine is based on a total cover standard, which means that atl plant cover including annual and biennial plant and listed noxious weeds are sampled and counted toward the cover standard. The Kerr reclamation cover and production success standards are based on reference areas standazds, wherein the potential revegetation success standards are based upon a "weighted average" value based upon the acreage of each vegetation type disturbed by mining. According to the calculations found in Table 31 -Disturbance Acreages by Vegetation Type, a total of 3$9.7 acres corresponding to four vegetatiott types have been disturbed by mining activities at the Man Mine site. These include 48.6 acres of the Big Sagebrush Vegetation Type; 337.3 acres of the Alkali Sagebrush Vegetation Type; 0.5 acres for the Salt Flat Vegetation Type and 3.3 acres for the Drainage Bottom Vegetation Type. According to Permit Page 776-76, due to the small azea of disturbance associated with the Salt Flat and Drainage Bottom Vegetation Types, the acreage of these types will be wmbined with the Sagebrush-Grass or Big Sagebrush Vegetation Type. This means that in temvs of a `weighted average" value a total of 86.55 percent of the total disturbance corresponds to the Alkali Sagebrush Vegetation Type and 13.45