2008-03-03_PERMIT FILE - C2006085 ‎(14)‎

• Permit No: C2006085
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 3/3/2008
• Doc Name: Baseline Vegetation Data by Kent Crofts of IME
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit J
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

• For each area sampled, a minimum of 30 production transacts were used for sample adequacy
calculations. Following clipping, the harvested plant materials were dried in a drying oven at 100
degrees C for a period of 24 hours.
Shrub Density. Starting at each of the 30 transact locations described above for the production
sampling, the fifty-meter tape was laid out along a predetermined and randomly selected
alignment. Woody stem density was determined using the center of the tape as a modified belt
transact. The right-hand side of the h~ansect was called Side A and the left-hand side of the tape
was called Side B. Data collected from each side of the tape were added into a transact value
which represents the number of shrubs sampled in the 100 m2 sample plot. These data are
reported in the Results Section as to the number of shrubs per 100 m2 as well as the number of
shrubs per acre.
Species Diversity. The plant cover data collected at each cover sample transact yielded data
relative to absolute and relative cover. These cover data were then converted into percent
composition or relative plant cover by species based upon the total amount of plant cover
encountered in each sample transact. The relative importance values of plants growing on the
reclaimed areas as outlined in the Permit Application, contain standards as to the number of
perennial grass species growing on the reclaimed areas to ensure that a monoculture of a single
plant or a few plants does not dominate the reclaimed areas.
As described in the proposed Northfield Mine Permit Application, the species diversity standard
• being proposed, is that at the Northfield Mine site, the reclaimed plant community shall be
composed of at least the number of dominant perennial species comprising at least five percent
of the relative plant cover.
Statistical Analysis of Data. As required by the Division's regulations and associated policies,
it is not necessary to achieve sample adequacy for vegetation monitoring, provided that a
maximum of at least fifty transccts have been sampled. If sample adequacy is achieved, a
minimum of a least 15 transacts for cover and 30 transacts for production and shrub density must
still be collected. Verbal approval to cease sampling after fifty transacts had been collected was
obtained from Ms. Sandy Brown and Mr. Dan Mathews during their site visit. Therefore, all of
the data collected in this evaluation were analyzed for sample adequacy in order to determine
whether the Division's requirements had been satisfied. The new sample adequacy formula
contained in the current regulations was used, wherein a precision of 0.10 was used for cover and
production and 0.15 for shrub density.
On the proposed disturbance areas and reference areas sampled, all of the field data were
analyzed in terms of "total plant cover" to determine whether sample adequacy was achieved
prior to leaving the site being sampled. On the areas sampled for production, a minimum of 30
samples were collected and the green plant weight data analyzed to determine whether sample
adequacy had been achieved. On all sites sampled for shrub density, a minimum of 30 samples
were collected and the data analyzed to determine whether sample adequacy had been achieved.
In instances were pr~uction or shrub density was not achieved with 30 samples, then a
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