2009-06-22_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981033 (2)

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required. If sample adequacy is not met with this minimum number, more randomly located transects will be sampled until adequacy is met. Measurements of woody plant density will consist of counting the number of shrubs with 25 randomly located lm x 25m, belt transects. Due to the fact that the area adjacent to the Bear No. 3 portal has been previously disturbed, the success criteria of Rule 4.15.10 are applicable. Specifically, the ground cover of living plants shall not be less than can be supported by the best available topsoil and shall be sufficient to control erosion. The more stringent requirements of Rule 4.15.8, which include meeting standards for herbaceous production and species diversity, are applicable to reclaimed areas at the Bear No. 3 that were not disturbed by previous mining operations. Bear Coal Company has requested, pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)(vi), that the Division set the revegetation success standards for the Bear No. 3 Mine for the parameters of herbaceous cover and production, species diversity and woody plant density based on local environmental conditions and available data for similar sites. The standards are listed below. 1. Herbaceous Production: 1600 lbs/acre 2. Herbaceous Cover: 40 percent Species Diversity: The species diversity standard is based on species composition (% relative cover). The reclaimed vegetation surface shall include at least three herbaceous species with relative cover equal to or greater than 3 percent, two of which are cool season grasses, and one forb. The combined relative cover of these species should not exceed 80 percent, and no one species should comprise greater than 60 percent. 4. Woody Plant Density: The permittee will not be required to reestablish a specific shrub density on the remainder of the reclaimed area at the Bear No. 3 Mine. The fact that the total surface disturbance at the Bear No. 3 Mine is about 8.4 acres in size minimizes the importance of reestablishing shrubs for wildlife use. The Bear No. 3 Mine disturbance area is contained within an area previously disturbed by mining and, as a result, the success criteria of 4.15. 10 apply. The permittee is not obligated to meet a standard for woody plant density. The most critical objective of reclamation at the site is to stabilize the surface, which can best be achieved through the establishment of a predominately herbaceous community, including both quick growing and long-lived perennial species. Certain shrub species will be included in the broadcast seed mixture, along with adapted grasses and forbs. The data upon which the standards were based was collected by Mountain Coal Company in the dry meadow vegetation type located approximately one-half mile south of the Bear No. 1 Mine and No. 2 Mine portals. The type occurs primarily on the top of the relatively level terraces to the south of the river. The meadow type was created by clearing of the wet mixed shrub type for grazing. The dry meadow data represented the most applicable available data for the disturbed areas at the Bear mine, considering environmental conditions and the revegetation plan. SCS production estimates for the swale range site, which corresponds to the Breece loam soil type 22