2011-10-03_REVISION - C1980007 (2)

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Total Vegetation Cover (2011) Final Total Vegetation Cover Success Criterion: 54.03 % total vegetation cover 2011 Reclaimed Areas X bar S N Nmin Based on the results of the 2011 quantitative sampling, the reclaimed areas exceeded the final revegetation total cover vegetation success criterion of 54.03 percent, exceeding the final revegetation success criterion for vegetation cover. Species Composition (2011) Total Perennial Species* ( >3% rel. cover) Cool Season Grasses* Cool Season Forbs* Relative Importance (3 % <x<40 %) 4.1 VEGETATION COVER Success Standard 3 57.53 9.35 30 5 2011 Reclaimed Areas 9 2 5 1 4 All Species All Species * Numbers reflect only those species meeting the relative importance percentage limitation The reclaimed areas far exceeded the requirements for species composition, thereby meeting the final revegetation success criterion and supporting the post - mining land use. 4.0 DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS The reclaimed areas were quantitatively sampled in 2011 to evaluate whether they would qualify for CDRMS Phase II bond release. Mean total vegetation cover (57.53 %) of the reclaimed areas significantly exceeded the value of the final revegetation success criterion (54.03 %). Perennial species accounted for 94.6 percent of total relative cover (49.42% graminoids, 40.44% forbs, 4.72% shrubs). Of the total vegetation cover, native species contributed 85.91 percent (43.25% graminoids, 37.94% forbs, 4.72% shrubs). These results indicate the establishment of a predominantly perennial, native vegetation community at the reclaimed areas, with total vegetation cover significantly greater than that of the final revegetation success criteria. Mountain Coal Company, LLC West Elk Mine 2011 Reclaimed Areas Vegetation Report Phase II Bond Release Page 9