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New Horizon Mine 2: <br />Statistically valid methods for vegetation sampling and demonstration of revegetation <br />success for the Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland areas were revised in TR-58, <br />approved in 2009, and further amended in PR-6, and are addressed in subsection 4.5.3 <br />of Section 2.05.4(2)(e) of the permit. Statistically valid success demonstration <br />methods for Irrigated Cropland and Dryland Pasture were also revised in PR-6. The <br />Irrigated Cropland success demonstration is addressed in subsections 5.5 through <br />5.5.4, and Dryland Pasture success demonstration is addressed in subsection 6.4. <br />Success criteria statistical methods comply with applicable requirements of Rules <br />4.15.8, 4.15.9, 4.15.11, and 4.25. <br />Success demonstration methods include the following: <br />1. Cover - Point intercept random sampling within reclaimed parcels and associated <br />reference areas will be employed for Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland and Dryland <br />Pasture areas. Cover sampling is not required on Irrigated Cropland reclaimed <br />areas. <br />2. Production - Clipping of randomly located 1/ square meter or larger quadrats, <br />oven drying and weighing, will be used to estimate herbaceous production on <br />Reclaimed Irrigated Pastureland and Dryland Pasture areas. On Irrigated <br />Cropland, a field harvest measurement method will be employed, in which a <br />statistically adequate random sample of hay bales from the reclaimed parcel are <br />weighed, the total number of bales in the parcel is counted, and the total hay <br />production for the parcel in pounds per acre is calculated by multiplying average <br />bale weight by total number of bales, divided by parcel acreage. <br />3. Species diversity - Species diversity standards have not been established for <br />reclaimed areas within the New Horizon Mine 2 area. For the relatively intensive <br />agricultural land uses proposed, simple seed mixes comprised of a small number <br />of productive forage species are appropriate for the irrigated pasture and dryland <br />pasture areas, and the crop to be produced on the irrigated cropland is alfalfa hay. <br />However, forage quality standards are specified. For the irrigated cropland, at <br />least 85% of the production is to be provided by alfalfa, and for the pastureland <br />types, at least 75% of the herbaceous production is to be provided by seeded <br />species or species of comparable quality as livestock forage. The forage quality <br />demonstrations will be based on a statistically adequate production sample, with <br />the option (for irrigated cropland only) of demonstration based on qualitative <br />assessment by a qualified agronomist, with written landowner concurrence. <br />4. Woody plant density - Not applicable to irrigated pastureland, irrigated cropland <br />alfalfa hay, or dryland pasture reclaimed areas within the New Horizon Mine 2 <br />area, for the same reasons discussed under "Species Diversity", above. Due to <br />management objectives, woody plants are not compatible with the cropland and <br />irrigated pasture types. One shrub (fourwing saltbush), and one half-shrub <br />52