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introduced species are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved <br />post-mining land use, and is not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2(3)). <br />B. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, <br />and woody plant density are discussed in Section 2.05.4(e), pages 2.05-24 <br />to 2.05- 27. These techniques include 25 meter long point-intercept <br />transects on both the reclaimed areas and the reference area. Production <br />will be determined by clipping .1 m2 plots along each transect. Transects <br />will be located randomly. The Division approved these techniques <br />(4.15.7(1)). <br />C. Comparisons between reclaimed and undisturbed areas, in order to <br />demonstrate that success criteria of 4.15.8, 4.15.9, or 4.15.10 have been <br />met, will be based on the following: <br />Reference areas were used as opposed to standards. Separate reference <br />areas for rangeland (grassland) and pastureland (AVF) were approved. <br />For the rangeland use, herbaceous cover and production shall be at least <br />90% of the cover as determined from the rangeland reference area with <br />90% statistical confidence. Species diversity will be deemed adequate <br />when the reclaimed lands, reseeded to a post mining land use of <br />rangeland, consist of a minimum of two cool season grasses, two warm <br />season grasses, and one forb. These species shall each comprise five <br />percent and no more than sixty percent relative cover and shall be <br />perennial non-noxious species. <br />For the pastureland use, production data from the pastureland (AVF) <br />reference area will be used to evaluate the revegetative success of the <br />pastureland reclamation. <br />Shrub density will be determined to be adequate when sampling <br />determines that shrubs comprise at least 5% of the total species <br />composition. <br />The Division approves the basis for this comparison. <br />D. The Division approved the reference areas that the applicant has selected <br />based on the requirements of Rule 4.15.7(3). <br />E. The reference areas will be utilized to determine revegetation success in a <br />manner, which the Division finds acceptable 4.15.7(4)). <br />XII. Post-mining Land Use <br />No specific approvals are granted under this section. <br />15