1987-12-01_PERMIT FILE - C1981017 (245)

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• si = the variance of cover or production for the affected area s2 = the variance of cover or production for the reference area nl = sample size in the affected area n2 = sample size in the reference area When x — x 1 is less than or equal to the other calculated value, the affected area and reference area are considered comparable for the purpose of evaluating reclamation success. 2.3.1 Coordination with State A Mid—Continent Resources representative and a plant ecologist from Western Resource Development met with OSM and CMLR personnel in a joint meeting in September 1979 to develop plans for the establishment of reference areas for the Coal Basin mines. It was agreed at this meeting that reference areas should be selected for the major vegetation types disturbed. Reference areas were to be similar to affected areas with respect to vegetation struc— ture, species dominance, species composition, estimated cover, estimated production, slope, and aspect . It was further agreed that reference areas could be located by the Western Resource Development ecologist based upon his experience. • During the 1979 growing season the entire permit area was mapped and each vegetation type was qualitatively described from field observations. Reference areas were located and quantitatively sampled for vegetation cover. Plans were developed to complete the production study during the 1980' growing season. An interim report summarizing results was prepared and sent to CMLR and OSM. A second meeting was held on 7 July 1960 with OSM and CMLR. Agency personnel stated Mid—Continent Resources must now meet the require— ments of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act by obtaining a new permit. For vegetation, reference areas must be located by a different process. The emerging methodology was to sample adjacent to existing dis— turbances and to use that data to locate statistically valid reference areas oer developed standards. This report now encompasses all agency requests from the 7 July 1980 meeting. 2.3.2 Collection and Analysis of Reference Area Data Techniques for obtaining quantitative information on cover , production, shrub height , and shrub density were the same as described in Section 2.2 above. Sample locations were selected r2ndomly in each reference area.