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-z- <br /> Correspondence of June 16, 1981, and July 9, 1981 indicates that reference <br /> areas were to be established' for this project. <br /> The Division has discussed the policy of utilizing baseline vegetation information <br /> as reclamation success criteria for underground mines of small or moderate <br /> disturbance with WRD and Mi -Continent. The amount of disturbance now proposed <br /> precludes this option for the Coal Canyon project. <br /> After analysis of the vegetation baseline data, the Division agrees that the <br /> area has been over utilized by wild and domestic grazers and the sagebrush/cheat- <br /> grass community has been altered from its natural characteristics. To establish <br /> a reference area in this community may be unjustified, given the option of <br /> returning the areas affected by mining to a better or more useful condition after <br /> mining. As stated before, the Division does not feel that reclamation criteria <br /> derived from baseline cover and/or productivity data can be justified in this <br /> instance. <br /> The Division and Mid-Continent should meet to discuss viable options in order <br /> to resolve this concern. <br /> MSS:ys <br />