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along with locations of inter-seeding areas and concentrated shrub establishment areas. <br />SCCC has proposed the following five seed mixes for re-establishing vegetation on lands to <br />be disturbed in connection with underground mining activities at the PSCM: upland area, <br />mesic site conditions, concentrated shrub area, temporary, and drill site. The concentrated <br />shrub area seed mix will include planting woody shrub seedlings. The seed mixes are based <br />on seed mixes used on the reclaimed lands on the Seneca Il Mine that are proposed for <br />transfer to the PSCM. The seed mixes reflect the dominance of cool season species similar <br />to the premining vegetation in the area. The seed mixes are designed for stabilizing the site <br />and establishing a diverse plant community that supports the postmining land uses of <br />rangeland, wildlife habitat, and recreation (wildlife viewing and hunting). The seed mixes <br />include introduced species for producing forage for livestock and wildlife. There will be four, <br />one-acre shrub concentration areas planted in the area North and South Facilities areas. The <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife approved the proposed shrub planting arrangements in a letter <br />dated February 23, 2010. The Division proposes to approve the- revegetation plan for the <br />PSCM. <br />SCCC has proposed evaluating revegetation success using the same methodology as <br />previously approved on the reclaimed lands on the Seneca Il Mine that are proposed for <br />transfer to the PSCM. The success of establishing cover and production will be based on <br />comparison of reclaimed areas with two reference areas, the sagebrush grassland reference <br />area and the mountain brush reference area. Both reference areas are located on the Seneca 11 <br />Mine lands that are proposed for transfer to the PSCM. Reclaimed lands on the Seneca lI <br />Mine that are proposed for transfer to the PSCM will be compared to both reference areas. <br />Revegetation that is on lands that are disturbed or re-disturbed by PSCM underground <br />mining activities will be compared to only the sagebrush grassland reference area. The <br />success of establishing species diversity and woody plant density will be based on technical <br />standards, as allowed by Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)(i). The same woody plant density technical <br />standards apply throughout the PSCM permit area. <br />Data will be collected on the reclaimed areas and the reference areas in the following three <br />years following permanent seeding: in either years 3 or 4, in year 9, and in year 10. Cover <br />data will be collected along randomly located, 50-meter long transects. Species diversity and <br />woody stem density data will be collected in two-meter wide belts centered on the cover <br />transects. Production data will be collected by clipping plants inside randomly located one <br />square meter plots. The sampling plan includes procedures for ensuring the number of <br />samples are statistically adequate. <br />Successful cover establishment will be demonstrated by performing a statistical hypothesis <br />test that indicates average cover on reclaimed land is at least 90% of the average cover on the <br />correlative reference areas. Species sample data will be used for demonstrating the reclaimed <br />surface consists of mixture of species that support the approved postmining land uses. The <br />Division approves of this proposal and finds it in compliance with Rules 4.15.8(3) and (6). <br />Production success will be demonstrated by herbaceous production that is at least 90% of the <br />average herbaceous production on the sagebrush grassland reference areas. The Division <br />Peabody Sage Creek Mine 30 May 7, 2010