2011-03-17_REVISION - C1981008 (2)

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According to Section 2.05.4(2)(e) of the New Horizon #2 permit at the time of this release application, reclamation success criteria for Irrigated Pasture were: "Revegetation will be deemed adequate if vegetation cover and herbaceous production at the reclaimed site is at least 90% of the reference area standard, after the weighted average soil adjustment, in accordance with DRMS Regulations 4.15.8." "At least 75% of the relative production will be comprised of seeded species or species of comparable livestock forage, and no more than 3% relative production will be comprised of county listed noxious species." Irrigated Pasture cover in the reclaimed area is 115.8% of the 90% mean reference area in 2007 and 128.7% of the 90% mean reference area in 2008. This demonstrates the successful achievement of the post-mining land use of Irrigated Pasture in the areas in question by generating successful cover and production of the desired species. Additionally, the strong presence of meadow brome, alfalfa, and orchard grass (an average of 75% of the species found) in the revegetation shows that the Irrigated Pasture area will be quality for livestock foraging. Reclamation success criteria for Dryland Pasture were: "Revegetation success for cover will be determined using the dryland pasture reference area as the basis. Total vegetative cover (live vegetation) of the reclaimed dryland pasture type in the New Horizon 2 area will be considered acceptable if it is not less than 90 percent of the reference area with 90 percent statistical confidence." The success standards for species diversity were waived for Dryland Pasture Dryland Pasture cover in the reclaimed area is 132.7% of the 90% mean reference area in 2008. The 2007 Dryland Pasture cover adequacy was demonstrated using a one-sample "standard null" t-test (see BIO-Logic report). This demonstrates the successful achievement of the post-mining land use of Dryland Pasture in the areas in questions by generating successful cover and production of the desired species. Please see the attached December 12, 2008 (Revised in July 2010) BIO-Logic reported, titled: 2007-2008 Vegetation Studies for Phase 3 Bond Release, First and Second Year Analysis, Irrigated Pasture and Dryland Pasture, page 15 & 16. As demonstrated in the 1310-Logic report, the Dryland Pasture cover has a tc of 0.938. The 1- tailed t table value (tt) has a value of 1.323. The null hypothesis is accepted, and revegetation in the reclaimed Dryland Pasture area is deemed successful. 2. Structures Left SL-12 CURRENT 11MARll.wpd 39