2012-03-07_PERMIT FILE - C2010088 (14)

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EXHIBIT 5 dominant plant encountered was Greasewood which contributed 34.83 of the total relative cover on this area. The locations of the 36 cover transects sampled in the Greasewood Reference Area are shown on Map 3, Permit Area Vegetation Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2.04.10 -2, Loadout Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of samples required to describe this site at the 90 percent confidence interval for plant cover was 33.2 transects. Production. The results obtained from the sampling of 50 production transects on this area are summarized in Table 2.04.10 -13, Greasewood Reference Area - Production. Average total perennial herbaceous forage production on this site equaled 9.52 g/1 /4 m2 or 339.3 pounds of air dry forage per acre. Perennial forbs contributed 9.44 g/1 /4 m2 or 99.16 percent of the herbaceous forage produced on this area. Annual forbs, contributed 0.08 g/1 /4 m2 or 0.84 percent of the herbaceous forage production on this area. The locations of the 50 production transects sampled for this site are shown on Map 3, Permit Area Vegetation Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2.04.10 -2, Loadout Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of samples required to describe this site at the 90 percent confidence interval with respect to total herbaceous forage production was 99.9 transects. Shrub Density. The shrub density counts obtained from the 50 belt transects sampled in this area are summarized in Table 2.04.10 -14, Greasewood Reference Area - Shrub Density. The average shrub density was determined to equal 12.61 shrubs per one hundred square meters or 510.3 shrubs per acre. Greasewood, contributed 12.50 or 99.13 percent of the shrubs, Big Sagebrush, contributed 0.08 or 0.63 percent of the shrubs, and, Rubber Rabbitbrush, contributed 0.03 or 0.24 percent of the shrubs encountered on this site. The locations of the 50 shrub density transects sampled in the Greasewood Reference Area are shown on Map 3, Permit Area Vegetation Map. Examination of the sample adequacy calculations in Table 2.04.10 -2, Loadout Area - Sample Adequacy Calculations, reveals the number of samples required to describe the shrub density on this area at the 90 percent confidence interval was 47.4 transects. REVEGETATION SUCCESS As required by Section 4.15.7, a suitable methodology must be developed to determine the ultimate revegetation success standards for each vegetation type that will be disturbed. As allowed by the Division's Guidelines for Compliance with Land Use and Vegetation Requirements for Coal Mining, CAM - Colorado, is proposing two methods to quantify the successfulness of final revegetation efforts. In the following discussion, each of the "major plant comminutes" will be addressed separately. With respect to the "minor plant comminutes," they will be reclaimed to the Greasewood Reference Area standards. The Greasewood "major plant community" will be reclaimed using the reference area approach. 17