2010-12-17_REVISION - C1981019 (110)

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RULE 4 PERFORMANCE STANDARDS CDRMS regulations have been revised to allow for the use of comparisons of species composition based on cover between the reclaimed area and the undisturbed vegetation. This method of analyzing diversity was applied to the premine herbaceous vegetation cover data originally sampled and summarized in Table 2.04.10 -35 (Collom — Vegetation Cover — 2005 Diversity Summary). Species diversity for the postmine vegetative community will be determined in the same manner as the premine inventory. Cover data will be collected using a point frame placed in an unbiased manner. Overall, postmine data collection methods will be similar to premine data collection methods. Relative cover values (composition) will be determined for each species in the sampled portion of the reclaimed area. The revegetation objective for diversity will be to establish a community on the reclaimed areas that contain the following; For areas targeting the grassland /grazingland subcomponent of the Rangeland/Fish and Wildlife Habitat Land Use: a) At least three native cool season perennial grasses with between 3% and 50% relative cover (composition), and b) At least one perennial forb or shrub with between 2% and 50% relative cover (composition), or 0 c) A total of all forbs or all shrubs combined with between 4% and 50% relative cover (composition), or d) If five or more native cool season perennial grass taxa contribute between 3% and 50% composition, the requirement for perennial forbs and shrubs shall be limited to 1% or more relative cover combined. For areas targeting the sagebrush steppe subcomponent of the Rangeland/Fish and Wildlife Habitat Land Use. At least four native* perennial species, each more than 3% composition, minimum of two of which are grasses and a minimum of one which is a forb, with the following caveat; If no single forb species exceeds 3% composition, the forb requirement can be met if- a) at least two native* perennial forbs combined comprise at least 2% composition, or; b) at least four native* perennial forbs combined comprise at least 1% composition. The dominant species will contribute to the appropriate structure and stability of the postmining vegetative community to insure that the postmining land use as addressed in Section 4.16, Post - mining Land Use, will be sustained. * The limitation to "native" status will not apply to introduced (and CDRMS approved) taxa specifically planted for an approved use (such as Orchard grass or Cicer milkvetch). Collom — Rule 4, Page 39 Revision Date: 1/23/09 Revision No.: PR -03