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that vegetation type. There was no mining disturbance in the Sage-gravel community; therefore, the data <br />from that reference area were not used to calculate the standard. <br />Transects were randomly placed in the reference areas and the reclaimed areas. A statistically adequate <br />number of samples was taken from each reference area and from the 1995 and 1996 reclaimed areas. Cover <br />data were collected by species using an ocular point frame. A total of one hundred hits were recorded along <br />each transect at one meter intervals. For Phase III bond release, vegetative cover in the reclaimed area must <br />be 90% of the cover from the weighted reference areas with 90% statistical confidence. <br />Vegetation monitoring data submitted by the operator showed that the 90% standard of vegetative cover of <br />the acreage-weighted reference areas was 31.74% for 2005 and 28.4% for 2006. Vegetative cover <br />measured on the reclaimed 720 Pit area was 40.8% in 2005 and 38.13% in 2006. The reclaimed area <br />cover exceeded the standard set forth in Rule 4.15.8(3)(a). The inspection confirmed that the cover on the <br />reclaimed area was acceptable. There were no large bare spots and the overall vegetative cover appeared <br />to be uniform. <br />Vegetative Productivity- Vegetation monitoring data submitted by the operator showed that the 90% <br />standard of herbaceous production of the acreage-weighted reference areas was 7.4 g/ 1/ M2 (264.0 lb/ac) <br />for 2005 and 6.11 g/ 1/4M 2 (218.0 lbs/acre) for 2006. Herbaceous production measured on the reclaimed <br />720 Pit area was 25.09 g/ 1/4M 2 (895.31bs/acre) in 2005 and 19.18 g/ 1/ M2 (684.3 lbs/acre) in 2006. The <br />reclaimed area cover exceeded the standard at least threefold. <br />Species Diversity- The species diversity standard for the Marr Mine requires that the relative cover of the <br />top four plant species not exceed 83% relative cover, and no one species shall exceed 40% relative cover. <br />The life form of one of the top four species needs to be a perennial forb or a shrub. On the 720 Pit area <br />sampling in 2005, the top four species comprised 67.15% relative cover. No one species exceeded 40% <br />relative cover. The species contributing the greatest percentage of relative cover in 2005 was Big <br />sagebrush (Atriplex tridentata) with 36.76% relative cover. The 2006 sampling measured the four <br />dominant species as contributing 75.53% relative cover with Big sagebrush (Atriplex tridentata) <br />contributing the greatest relative cover per specie with 37.77% relative cover. Noxious weed species were <br />infrequent and the sampling in 2005 only encountered one species, Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), in <br />one transect that contributed 1.14% relative cover. Canada thistle was encountered in one transect during <br />the 2006 sampling with a relative cover contribution of 0.35% in 2006. <br />Woody Plant Density-The woody plant density (WPD) standard for the Marr Mine is 1500 stems per <br />acre. Sampling of the woody plants during the vegetation sampling process consists of sampling the <br />woody species within a 100 M2 quadrat. The WPD standard translates to 37.07 stems per 100 M2 <br />quadrat. Woody stems measured in the 720 Pit in 2005 was 205.23 stems/100 M2 quadrat, and 2006 <br />sampling counted 171.23 stems/100 M2 quadrat. Woody plant establishment in the 720 Pit far exceeded <br />the required WPD standard. <br />Support of post-mining land use-The approved post-mining land uses for the mine area are rangeland <br />and wildlife habitat. KCC implemented approved grazing plans on the reclaimed mine areas (720 Pit, <br />Marr Pit, and Pit 1) in 2003 and 2004. Vegetation sampling in 2005 and 2006 found that the reclaimed <br />vegetation adequately responded following implementation of the grazing plan. The mine site is also <br />grazed and browsed by wildlife as noted by observation of deer and elk sign during regular Division <br />inspections. <br />Marr Mine SL4 10