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Colowyo has three distinct revegetation success standards. The first standard applies to the pre- <br />2009 reclaimed area and the second and third standards will be applied to areas reclaimed 2009- <br />forward. Areas reclaimed in 2009-forward will be either grazingland or sagebrush steppe areas <br />with corresponding standards applied to them. These standards are based on the substantive <br />changes in the reclamation plan and seed mixes that resulted from the approval of Technical <br />Revision 72on 24 June 2009. The revegetation success standards for each of these three distinct <br />areas is discussed below. <br />Based on herbaceous cover and productivity from the sampled reference areas, the revegetation <br />success criteria for both the pre-2009 areas and the 2009-forward grassland areas are as follows: <br />Herbaceous cover will be at least 90 percent of the cover measured in the reference area <br />with a 90 percent statistical confidence level. Herbaceous productivity for revegetated <br />areas wiii've no 'Less tilari 90 percent as productive as Me associated reference area wU11 a <br />90 percent statistical confidence level. <br />The revegetation success criteria for the 2009-forward sagebrush steppe areas will be based on <br />herbaceous cover and productivity from the sampled reference areas as follows: <br />Herbaceous cover will be at least 70 percent of the cover measured in the reference area <br />with a 90 percent statistical confidence level. Herbaceous productivity for revegetated <br />sagebrush steppe areas has been eliminated. <br />Herbaceous cover and production success for the "original" permit area disturbances and for the <br />relatively limited acreage of disturbance projected for the Lower Wilson disturbance (120 acres <br />approximate) will be based on acreage weighted comparisons, using the sagebrush and mountain <br />shrub reference areas, in accordance with Rule 4.15.7(4)(b), as previously approved. <br />For the South Taylor area disturbance (area enclosed by "Tie-in Boundary For Post Mining <br />Topography" on Map 23A) and the 2009-forward areas, herbaceous production and cover <br />success testing will be based on weighted parameters from the 1980 mountain shrub reference <br />area (52% weight), the 1981 sagebrush reference area (25% weight) and the 1984 aspen <br />reference area (23% weight), pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(3)(b)(iii) and 4.15.7(4)(c). Arguments for <br />the use of the latter approach for the South Taylor area and the 2009-forward areas are presented <br />under the Justification for Reference Area Selection-Sagebrush Reference Area, narrative of <br />Volume 12, Section 2.04.10, of the application. Relevant portion of the narrative notes that: <br />... the sagebrush-grassland ecotype is the main ecological community that will be <br />targeted by reclamation planning for the disturbed South Taylor project area for <br />two principal reasons. First, efforts to establish Mountain Shrub and Aspen <br />revegetated communities in Northwest Colorado within the timeframe of the <br />liability period have met with repeated and well-documented failures. Second, <br />replacement of habitats conducive to Sage Grouse is of far greater importance to <br />the CDOW than any other wildlife species group. In this regard, the [sagebrush <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance 14 September 2009 <br />Permit Renewal 05 Page 61