2010-01-25_PERMIT FILE - C1981044A (3)

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Samples were taken for the following parameters: • Cover • Production • Density The following statistical tests were used to compare the quality of the vegetation cover and production of the sagebrush affected area and corresponding reference area (OSM 1980): Cover Cover was measured by point-intercept techniques at one (1) meter intervals along a 50 meter transect. At each point a metal pin was projected downward perpendicular to the transect and first hits on vegetation, litter, rock, or bare ground were recorded. Second hits on vegetation were also recorded by species to provide a more complete description of species composition within each community. Results obtained from a second hit data were only described in terms of relative cover. Production Herbaceous production was obtained at each random sampling site location by harvesting above ground herbaceous growth. Harvested tissue within each quadrat (1x1 meter) was separated by major perennial and annual grass species, annual and perennial forb species, grass like species, and half shrub species. Species with dry weight of less than one (1) gram were noted as a "trace" and arbitrarily assigned a value of 0.3 grams. Harvested tissue was placed in paper bags, oven-dried at 105° C for 24 hours, and weighed to the nearest 0.1 gram. Shrub Density • Shrub densities were obtained along a 50 meter transect by counting all individuals rooted within one (1) meter of one side of the transect. Seedlings less than five (5) inches in height of all shrubs were not counted, however, adult shrubs possessing diminutive morphology were counted. Cover data were summarized by determining mean cover, relative cover, and standard deviation for each species, life form group, rock, litter, and bare ground within each vegetation type. Above ground standing biomass of herbaceous species (production) was determined as the mean dry weight of all species at all plots within each type. Production was expressed in grams per square meter and pounds/acre for each type. Shrub density was computed as a mean number of plants per 50 square meters and per acre for all species. A summary of sample adequacy is presented on Table 39, Summary of Sample Adequacy. A summary of cover, production and density data is presented in Table 40, Summary of Cover, Production, and Density Data for Reclaimed Type. Threatened Endangered, and Sensitive (TES) Species The initial assessment of potential impacts of the RAG EC mining operation on TES plant species was based on the publication, "Proposed and Recommended Threatened and Endangered Plant Species of the Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region", published by the United States Forest Service. This publication identified the following vegetation species, classified as Rare and Endangered (previous designation) as potentially occurring in Moffat County: Arabis demissa var. russeloa Cryptantha stricta Erio og num viridulum Oxy"opis obnapiformia Parthenium lieulatum Penstemon yampaensis 0 Permit Renewal RN08-05 2.04-34 01/15/09