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The following specific findings are required. <br />A. The Division has approved the use of two introduced species in the current reclamation seed <br />mixes. The species are cicer milkvetch in the lowland seedmix and prostrate kochia in the <br />upland seedmix The introduced species are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved <br />post - mining land use, and are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2). Introduced species comprise <br />approximately 6.1% of the seeding rate for the lowland mix and 4.3% of the seeding rate for the <br />upland mix, on a seeds /sq.ft. basis. <br />B. The Division has approved the use of wood fiber, grass hay, or straw mulch as a means to meet <br />soil stabilization requirements (4.15.4). Hay or straw will be certified noxious weed -free. <br />C. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and woody plant <br />density, applicable to "Fish and Wildlife Habitat" postmining land use areas, are discussed in <br />Section 2.05.4, Tab 14, Volume 5, of the permit. These techniques include point intercept cover <br />sampling, quadrat production, and belt transect woody plant density sampling. Appropriate <br />methods for sample adequacy demonstration and statistical comparison are specified. <br />Quantitative sampling techniques and comparison methods are not applicable to "Industrial or <br />Commercial" postmining land use areas. <br />The proposed success measurement techniques are approved by the Division (4.15.7(1)). <br />D. Comparisons between reclaimed and undisturbed areas, in order to demonstrate that success <br />criteria of 4.15.8 have been met, for "Fish and Wildlife Habitat" postmining land use areas, will <br />be based on the following: <br />The Division has approved of the reference areas which the permittee has selected based on the <br />requirements of Rule 4.15.7(3). The reference areas will be utilized to determine revegetation <br />success in a manner which the Division fords acceptable (4.15.7(4)). <br />Technical standards are proposed for woody plant density and species diversity success <br />determination, pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)(iii). The standard for woody plant density is 800 <br />woody plant stems per acre. The Division has approved the standard after consultation with the <br />Division of Wildlife, pursuant to Rule 4.15.8(7). <br />The species diversity standard is specified on page 14 -24. The standard is as follows: <br />- Total perennial cool season grass species > 0.5% relative cover; <br />- Total perennial warm season grass species > 2% relative cover; <br />- Total perennial forbs and suffrutescent species > 0.5% relative cover, <br />- No reclaimed area shall have a single species that represents greater than 70% relative <br />cover, with the exception of annual grasses. The annual grass component shall not <br />exceed 70% relative cover unless the annual grass component in the corresponding <br />reference area also exceeds 70 %. In such cases, the relative cover of the annual grass <br />component of the reclaimed area shall not exceed the relative cover of the annual grass <br />component in the reference area by more than 5 %. <br />The Division finds that the proposed standard will satisfy the species diversity and seasonal variety <br />Permit Revision No. 5 44 July 10, 2012 <br />