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sample mean was 44.9%. As such, successful vegetation cover establishment was clearly <br />demonstrated for BRB-2 and BRB-3. <br />Vegetation Cover Summary: Based on the site inspection and review of data and evaluation in the <br />bond release application and revegetation report referenced in the application, the Division finds that <br />successful vegetation cover has been demonstrated for BRB-2 and BRB-3. <br />Species Composition/Diversity Evaluation <br />A relatively high degree of vegetative diversity among revegetated parcels was noted during the <br />inspection, reflecting differing topography, soil conditions, reclamation practices, climatic conditions <br />and other factors. The older revegetated stands within BRB-2 generally exhibit somewhat higher <br />cover and production, with a higher component of alfalfa and introduced grasses, while the most <br />recent seedings within BRB-4 reflect lower cover and productivity, with a higher component of native <br />species and somewhat higher apparent over-all diversity. Parcels within BRB-3 seemed on average to <br />be more diverse than BRB-2 areas. Shrub planting areas appear to have been fairly successful in a <br />few drainage area plantings, but in a majority of the shrub planting sites observed, low numbers of <br />stunted shrubs remained. However, significant expanses of shrub stands, primarily big sagebrush or <br />big sagebrush/snowberry, have developed in various locations throughout the bond release blocks, <br />likely from native seedbank in the respread topsoil. <br />Small parcels of undisturbed native shrub habitat that were retained within some of the large <br />reclamation blocks have contributed to over-all diversity of the landscape and are important habitat <br />features for mule deer and other wildlife species. In addition to the undisturbed shrub islands and <br />shrub patches on the reclaimed parcels, it was evident that forage and cover provided by stands with <br />significant component of alfalfa, and the tall structure provided by stands of basin wildrye provide <br />important wildlife habitat. Numerous mule deer does with their fawns were jumped from their beds <br />while walking through these habitat types, while grouse droppings (presumably sharptail) were <br />observed in both "native type" reclaimed sagebrush grass communities and stands with heavy alfalfa <br />component. A sharptail grouse hen and her brood were flushed from an alfalfa/grass community near <br />Pond 16 in BRB-3. There are a number of established sharptail leks within the SL-3 release request <br />area. <br />Sample data included in the SL-3 application supports the field observations regarding species <br />composition within the bond release blocks. Although compliance with diversity criteria is not <br />required for Phase II bond release, the Division does evaluate whether vegetative composition is <br />supportive of the approved postmining land use, and whether there is apparent potential for <br />revegetated areas to achieve the final Phase III standard in future years. At Seneca II, Phase III bond <br />release criteria applicable to BRB-3 require conformance with one mandatory species dominance test, <br />and at least two of three additional tests (total species density, lifeform species distribution similarity <br />index comparison, and native species density assessment). Diversity success determination for BRB- <br />2 is based on narrative evaluation supported by quantitative data. Although not required for Phase II <br />bond release, the applicant presented the results of the quantitative diversity testing for each of the <br />14