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Woody plant density and species diversity success criteria will be based on performance standards. As <br />• discussed latex in this section, seasonal variety as a success parameter is not applicable because of the <br />cool season vegetation dominance in the native aeeas. <br />The extended reference area approach maximizes the use of extensive undisturbed lands within the <br />permit area that contain the same vegetation types found in the disturbance azea. This allows for a <br />more valid comparison of native vegetation to reclauned lands. The total maximum life-of--mine <br />disturbance is illustrated on Exhibit 22-1. This exhibit provides an estimate of undisturbed vegetation <br />available for inclusion in an extended reference azea. The extended reference azea includes all <br />undisturbed ]ands between the permit boundary and the life-of-mine disturbance boundary. As can <br />be seen from review of this exhibit, considerable undisturbed areas will remain after mining-related <br />disturbances. These undisturbed aeeas represeat.similaz.ranges_ofrsoils,.eleyadons,.aspects, slopes, <br />and phases of the representative vegetation communities in the affected areas. All major premine <br />vegetation communities aze represented in these undisturbed aeeas (overlay Exhibit 10-1 with Exhibit <br />22-1). The extent of these undisturbed vegetation communities and the close proaitniry to the <br />reclaimed areas provide the best comparison to premine site and vegetation conditions possible. The <br />final Yoast disturbance azea is smaller (PR-02) than originally anticipated and indicated on the <br />• approved Post-Mining Vegetation Map (I'R-25). Some of these undisturbed areas aze "islands" <br />surrounded by disturbed area or peniasulaz aeeas along the fringes of the disturbed azea <br />(approximately 34.6 acres), which will serve as Mature Upland Shrub sites and additional Aspen sites. <br />The approved acres of "Mature Shrub Transplant Sites" have been replaced with ah-early established <br />undisturbed islands and peninsulaz aeeas of established mountain shrubs located within the approved <br />disturbance azea. This approach helps to ensure continued survival of "live" mature shrubs and <br />aspen. Exhibit 22-1, Post-Mining Vegetation Map (sheet 2), indicates the location of the "undisturbed <br />areas" included as Aspen and Mature Shrub Transplant sites. SCC will monitor these "islands" as <br />extended reference areas. The 2006 Anaual Reclamation report will include qualitative descriptions of <br />the "typical" and major islands. Many of the islands are along the disturbance boundary and sampling <br />of each polygon would be difficult and unnecessary. SCC will sample those "islands" over five (5) <br />acres and prepare a typical description of the remaining smaller aeeas. <br />Seneca Coal Company has surface control of all lands to be included in the extended reference azea. <br />This will allow SCC to manage the reference areas in accordance with the approved posttttitrittg land <br />use. It will also facilitate sitnilaz management for both the reference and revegetated areas for any <br />• bond release evaluations during the last two yeazs of the liability period. Reference azea comparability <br />is addressed in Appendix 22-1. <br />PR-02 33 Revised 01/06 <br />