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Trinidad Basin Mining was sampled for two consecutive years to document revegetation <br />at the reclaimed mine site. This effort conducted to support termination of jurisdiction <br />for the revoked permit, C-1981-048. <br />STANDARD <br />The original pre-mine community at the Trinidad Basin Mine (TBM) site was pinyon- <br />juniper. According to limited sampling of the site the pre-mine community consisted of <br />3.3% absolute cover of perennial grasses, 0.7% cryptograms, 14.0% shrubs and 35.3% <br />trees. TBM proposed to return the site to rangeland comprised primarily of grasses. <br />Stipulation numbers 7-12 in the original permit findings addressed deficiencies with the <br />baseline vegetation information, the revegetation plan and methods for determining <br />reclamation success. According to the permit system, these stipulations were complied <br />with, although the documentation regarding the reclamation success standards is minimal. <br />A reference area was sampled; however a map showing the location could not be located. <br />A letter proposing revegetation success standards was received by the Division on <br />February 18, 1992. <br />The standards proposed on February 18, 1992 are based on a range site description <br />suggested by the Soil Conservation Service. Using the SCS information, TBM proposed <br />the following revegetation standard: <br />Total absolute aerial cover: 32.0% <br />Relative vegetation cover: Grasses 45-60% <br />Forbs 35-40% <br />Shrubs 1-5% <br />Productivity 400 pounds (air dry) per acre <br />No correspondence acknowledging whether or not the standards were accepted was <br />located. <br />SAMPLING METHODOLOGY <br />Revegetation data was collected on the reclaimed areas on: June 25&26, 2007 and June <br />23 & 24, 2008. The sampling methodology was the same in both years. <br />Data was collected in the field for vegetative cover and herbaceous production by the <br />Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) staff. Prior to collecting the field <br />data, a map was prepared in the office showing the reclaimed areas. Random points were <br />selected by weighted acreage for each reclaimed parcel to ensure the entire site was <br />covered. A total of 30 randomly located sites were selected and the data was collected