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reclaimed area is not less than 90% of the reference areas cover, with 90% <br />statistical confidence. <br />A cover success standard for irrigated hay cropland is not applicable because <br />revegetation success is only dependent on production. <br />2. Production - The production success standard for irrigated hay cropland in the <br />New Horizon 2 area is a technical standard based on a combination of permit <br />area landowner estimates, NRCS evaluation, and landowner production <br />records for 1987 and 1999, for alfalfa hayland first cutting production. Yield <br />estimates and records for the permit area landowners, and a June, 1998 letter <br />from the; NRCS supportive of a production standard of 1.84 tons/acre/year, for <br />1st cutting irrigated hay land production, are included in Attachment <br />2.05.4(2)(E)-A, Gf ,lice permit application. iirigated hay cropland production <br />success will be demonstrated when the production mean based on sampling is <br />not less than 90% of 1.84 tons per acre, with 90% statistical confidence. <br />Alternatively, success will be demonstrated when production based on total <br />harvest (1st cutting) is not less than 90% of 1.84 tons per acre. <br />The success standard for irrigated pasture areas was changed from a technical <br />standards to reference area comparison within TR-58, approved in 2009. The <br />reference area is described above under the section on Cover. Irrigated <br />pasture production success will be demonstrated when the production mean <br />based on sampling is not less than 90% of an adjusted reference area mean <br />production value. The justification and methodology for adjustment of the <br />reference area mean is to correct for inherent differences in potential <br />productivity associated with the various pre-mining soil types in the affected <br />area (see discussion, explanation, and documentation beginning on page <br />2.04.5(2)(e)(19H) of the permit application). The premining soil type <br />delineations that will be used for reference area production adjustments are <br />depicted on permit Map 2.05.4(2)(e)-1. <br />The success standard for dryland pasture areas in the New Horizon Mine 2 <br />area will be based on comparison to herbaceous production in the dryland <br />pasture 'reference area. Success will be demonstrated when herbaceous <br />production based on random sampling within the bond release parcel is not <br />less than 90% of the dryland pasture reference area mean, with 90% statistical <br />confidence. <br />3. In TR-58, a diversity (forage quality) standard was established for the <br />irrigated pasture reclaimed areas, which requires that: <br />At least 75% of the relative production will be comprised of seeded <br />species or species of comparable quality as livestock forage. <br />County listed noxious weed species will not be counted towards the <br />success standard for cover or production in any reclaimed area. <br />41