2010-09-22_APPLICATION CORRESPONDENCE - C2010088

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• EXHIBIT 5 Once the boundaries of the proposed vegetation study areas were identified, then using a specially prepared computer program which generates random coordinates, the potential transect location coordinates were identified. These coordinates were then entered into the GPS unit and the transect location starting points were identified in the field using the navigate feature of the GPS unit. At each transect location starting point, the transect direction was determined by selecting a random direction based on the degrees of the compass (0 to 359 Once the transect orientation was determined, then the 50 -meter tape was laid out across the designated alignment. All transects were kept within the sample unit boundaries. In situations where the transect placement resulted in the transect alignment crossing a sample unit boundary, the transect line was backed up for that portion of which crossed the boundary line 180 degrees. Where the 50 -meter tape could not be placed within a narrow vegetation polygon due to boundary constraints, then the transect alignment was changed approximately 90 degrees at the point where the boundary line was crossed to ensure that the entire transect alignment was located within the area to be sampled. Plant Cover. Plant cover was evaluated by randomly sampling ten previously identified intervals along the outstretched 50 -meter transect tape. At each designated sample point, an inclined metal ten -point frame, approximately one meter in height was positioned perpendicular to the tape. Each designated interval was sampled at ten - centimeter intervals along the ten -point frame by dropping a sharpened metal rod. Even random sample intervals were sampled on the right -hand side of the tape and odd numbers were sampled on the left -hand side of the tape. Each observation was recorded as to the specific plant species encountered as the sharpened rod was dropped. If no plant cover was encountered, then the observation was recorded as to the presence of plant litter, rock, bare ground, lichens or cryptograms. Plant material produced in the 2010 growing season which was still attached to the plant was considered as living plant material and the dead plant material which had fallen to the ground or which had obviously been dead for several years was considered to be litter. The 100 data points collected along each transect were then summarized into a single datum for purposes of statistical analysis. Absolute and relative plant cover, species diversity, and plant life forms were determined based upon the observations collected in sampling the plant cover. As discussed in the revegetation section found in the Unit Train Loadout Permit Application, the proposed plant cover revegetation success standard is based on an allowable cover standard, which means that all plant cover excluding annual and biennial plant and listed noxious weeds are sampled but are not counted toward the cover standard. For each vegetation type sampled, a minimum of 15 cover transects were used for sample adequacy calculations. Production. Along the transect alignment described for plant cover, three randomly located circular one - quarter square meter plots were clipped along each production transect. These plots were clipped by life forms for perennial grasses, perennial forbs, annual grasses and annual forbs as directed by the CDRMS. As required in Rule 4.15.11, shrubs, subshrubs and noxious weeds were not clipped, since they cannot count toward the proposed revegetation • production success standard but annual grasses and forbs s were clipped. The production 3