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Diversity (Species Composition) <br />The diversity standard for the site is described on page 116b of the permit. As stated on permit page <br />116b, the reclaimed community will have "at least four perennial species of which three are warm <br />season perennial grasses and one is a cool season perennial grass. No one component of the above <br />species shall comprise greater than 40% relative importance nor less than 3% relative importance." <br />Relative importance is measured using relative cover. Relative cover is defined as the vegetative cover <br />contributed by individual species divided by the total vegetative cover. <br />The 2009 sample data measured seven applicable species contributing greater than 3% relative cover, <br />and none of these seven species exceeding 40% relative cover. The species and their relative cover <br />contribution are: Prairie Sandreed (31.17% relative cover), Ragweed (8.04% rel.cov.), Switchgrass <br />(7.12% rel.cov.), Western wheatgrass (6.56% rel.cov.), Kochia (4.91% rel.cov.), Blue grama (4.29% <br />rel.cov.), and Sand Bluestem (4.05 %). Prairie Sandreed, Switchgrass, Blue Grama, and Sand Bluestem <br />are warm season grasses. Western wheatgrass is a cool season grass. The species diversity standard <br />was met on the requested parcels for 2009 sampling. Two other species were present in more than 3% <br />relative cover; Cheatgrass (11.84% rel.cov.) and Annual sunflower (7.48 %), however, Cheatgrass is on <br />Weld County and the State noxious species list, so does not contribute to the species composition <br />success, and Annual sunflower is an annual, so it too does not contribute to the species composition <br />success. <br />The 2011 sample data measured six species that contribute to the species diversity success for the <br />requested parcels; Western wheatgrass (4.34 %.), Sand Bluestem (9.44% rel.cov.), Blue Grama (5.90% <br />rel.cov.), Mountain Brome (3.06% rel.cov.), Prairie Sandreed (39.03% rel. coy.) and Switchgrass <br />(3.32% rel.cov.). Prairie Sandreed, Switchgrass, Sand Bluestem, and Blue grama are all warm season <br />grasses, while Western wheatgrass meets the requirement for one cool season grass. The species <br />diversity standard was met on the requested parcels for 2011 sampling. <br />In summary, the species diversity success standard was met both the 2009 and 2011 data. <br />Woody Plant Density <br />For the site, no woody plant species are required to be established for the reclamation. <br />Revegetation Summary and Conclusion <br />Based upon a review of the mine permit, CEC's bond release application, CEC's response to the <br />adequacy review, and site inspections, the Division finds that CEC has established vegetation in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan. Also, CEC has established vegetation that supports the <br />approved post mine land use and meets the approved success standards for vegetative cover, vegetative <br />productivity, and species diversity. <br />Water Quality Impacts <br />Regarding groundwater resources, the Protection of Hydrologic Balance section of the permit <br />Page 7 <br />