2012-03-27_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981010

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regulations (Rule 4.15.11(2)), and applying the reverse null statistical approach, it can be concluded that the requested reclaimed block satisfies the requirements with respect to production. Species diversity success was determined from the vegetative cover data. The species diversity success standard on rangeland areas of the Trapper mine consists of a minimum of four cool season perennial grass species and one forb species. Each of the contributing species needs to contribute at least 3 percent relative cover but no more than 50 percent relative cover. No four species may contribute greater than 80 percent relative cover. In 2011, there were a total of four cool season perennial grasses that met the relative cover criteria (Great Basin Wildrye, Western Wheatgrass , Kentucky Bluegrass and Sheep Fescue) and two forb species (Alfalfa and Cicer Milkvetch). Of these, a single species contributed 28.59% of total relative cover with the four most dominant species on the site contributing 61.74% of the total relative cover on the site. In the 2010 sampling, there were four cool season grasses that met the relative cover criteria (Great Basin Wildrye, Western Wheatgrass, Bluebunch, Wheatgrass and Sheep Fescue) and two forb species (Alfalfa and Cicer Milkvetch) with the most dominate species contributing 25.20% of the total relative cover with the four most dominant species on the site contributing 58.23% of the total relative cover on the site. The revegetation monitoring confirms that for both sampling periods, the species diversity standard has been met. The woody plant density (WPD) success standard is composed of two components. The first component is a measure of overall shrub density for the bond release block. The success standard for the first component is 400 stems per acre; measured during the cover data collection. The second component is comprised of concentrated shrub clumps. Three shrub clumps, SC -A -01, SC -A -00, SC -F -06, were included in the lands requested for Phase III bond release under this application (SL -13). After removal of parcel F -AB -01 shrub clump SC -F -06 was no longer encompassed by the bond release block. The shrub clumps are composed of transplanted shrub pads. If pads exhibit 10 or more live shrubs per pad, the pad is considered alive. If fifty - percent or more of the shrub pads within a clump are considered alive, the clump is considered successful. The revegetation monitoring reports submitted included shrub clump SC -F -06. According to these reports, the 2011 sample data found 65.72% live pads within the clumps, while the 2010 sample data recorded 83.3% live pads within the clumps. After shrub clump SC -F -06 was removed from the data, in 2011 68.9 %, and in 2010 79.6% live pads within the clumps were found. As indicated above the overall woody plant density standard for the site is 400 stems per acre. The revegetation monitoring data submitted with the application measured 1,470.4 stems per acre exist at the site in 2011, and 1324.4 stems per acre in 2010. In 2011; Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), Fourwing Saltbrush (Atriplex canescens), Antelope Bitterbrush (Purshia tridentate), and Chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) were the most commonly encountered shrubs contributing 545.1, 407.4, 277.9 and 76.9 shrubs per acre respectively. In 2010, Big Sagebrush, Antelope Bitterbrush, Fourwing Saltbrush and Mountain Snowberry (Symphoricarpos oreophilus) were the most commonly encountered shrubs, contributing 562.5, 324.9, 278.0 and 71.6 shrubs per acre respectively. Using the Trapper Mine Page 9 March 27, 2012 Phase Ill Bond Release (SL -13)