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Areas which originally supported sagebrush and mountain shrub vegetation are being <br />restored to a dryland pasture /wildlife habitat postmining land use, and have been seeded <br />with a diverse mix of adapted grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Irrigated hayland areas have <br />been seeded with a mix of productive forage grasses and alfalfa, and the hayland areas <br />will be irrigated with water from the Vulcan Ditch, which traverses the reclaimed area. <br />Management during the liability period is to include proper management of livestock to <br />promote the postmine land use, and control of noxious weeds. Weed control efforts were <br />initiated in 1993, and will be continued annually as necessary to control infestations of <br />Canada thistle, field bindweed, and Russian knapweed. While initial irrigation was <br />initiated in the 1997 growing season, the operator has not irrigated the site in recent years <br />and, due to the prohibitively high cost, no additional irrigation is anticipated. <br />Quantitative sampling of revegetated areas was conducted in conjunction with Phase II <br />bond release (currently under review), and will be accomplished in conjunction with final <br />bond release during the final two years of the liability period. <br />Phase II sampling of the dryland reclaimed areas was limited to vegetation cover, while <br />Phase III sampling will include cover, production, and woody plant density. Phase II and <br />Phase III sampling of the irrigated cropland will be limited to vegetation production. <br />Statistically valid sampling techniques to be employed for demonstrations of revegetation <br />success are described on pages 4 -62a through 4 -62c of the PAP. Sample adequacy <br />demonstrations and statistical testing methods will be consistent with the Division's Bond <br />Release Guidelines. <br />Revegetation success standards are summarized below. Success standards are addressed in <br />the PAP. <br />Irrigated Hayland — 3000 pounds /acre. <br />Sagebrush Community — Phase III vegetative success will be evaluated for cover, <br />production and species diversity. Total perennial, non - noxious cover, as per Rule <br />4.15.8(3)(a), must be found to be greater than or equal to 90 percent of the reference <br />area's total perennial, non - noxious cover with a 90 percent statistical confidence level. <br />Additionally, herbaceous, perennial, non - noxious production, as per 4.15.8(4)(a), must be <br />found to be greater than or equal to 90 percent of the reference area's herbaceous, <br />perennial, non - noxious production with a 90 percent statistical confidence level. <br />Species diversity success will be evaluated. Using relative cover for each species, the <br />reclaimed areas will have at least four perennial species each with relative importance <br />equal to or greater than 3 %. No individual species which provides in excess of 60% <br />relative cover can be counted toward the diversity standard. At least three of the species <br />will be cool season grasses. <br />No woody stem density success standard applies to the mine site. <br />XII. Post - mining Land Use <br />Coal Ridge No. 1 Mine <br />Permit Renewal 6 17 31 October 2011 <br />