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(forage kochia) are included at low rates in the dryland pasture seedmix, based on <br />their desirable livestock forage characteristics and site adaptation, however given <br />the land use, a specific density requirement is not warranted. <br />The Division proposes to approve these techniques (4.15.7(1)). <br />E. In order to demonstrate that revegetation success criteria of 4.15.8, 4.15.9, and 4.25 <br />have been met, the following success standards will be used: <br />New Horizon Mine 1: <br />1. Cover - Dryland Pasture reclaimed areas will be compared to the established <br />Dryland Pasture reference area located on Nucla Airport property. Cover <br />standards are not applicable to the Irrigated Hayland areas. <br />2. Production - Dryland pasture reclaimed areas will be compared to Natural <br />Resources Conservation Service potential productivity value (technical standard) <br />for Shavano soil series, which is 500 lbs./acre. Irrigated Hayland success <br />standard is 2,710 pounds per acre, based on a previously approved premining data <br />derived technical standard. <br />3. Species diversity - For these agricultural land use types, a forage quality standard <br />was established, and is addressed in Permit Tab 22. <br />4. Woody plant density criteria are not applicable to the Dryland pasture and <br />irrigated hay cropland. <br />New Horizon Mine 2: <br />1. Cover - The success standard for irrigated pasture is based on comparison of <br />reclaimed irrigated pasture areas to an irrigated pasture reference area approved in <br />TR-58. The reference area is located immediately to the east of the NH-2 permit <br />area block on land owned by WFC (see permit Maps 2.05.4(2)(e)-1 and (e)-2, for <br />reference area location, boundaries, and NRCS soil type delineations). Successful <br />cover establishment will be demonstrated by statistically valid demonstration of <br />reclaimed area/reference area comparability, in accordance with applicable <br />requirements of Rule 4.15, and as described in Section 2.05.4(2)(e) Subsection <br />4.5.1 through 4.5.3. <br />The success standard for dryland pasture is based on a cover comparison with an <br />established dryland pasture reference area located on property at the Nucla <br />Airport. The Airport Dryland Pasture Reference area is described in Section <br />2.05.4(2)(e) Subsection 6.4 of the permit application. Successful cover <br />establishment will be demonstrated when live vegetation cover on the reclaimed <br />area is not less than 90% of the reference area cover, with 90% statistical <br />confidence. <br />A cover success standard for irrigated hay cropland is not applicable because <br />revegetation success is only dependent on production. <br />53