2012-06-20_PERMIT FILE - C2010089A (7)

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requires that the mined areas be reclaimed to a higher use. Based upon this comparison, WFC feels justified in proposing to use the existing Dryland Pasture Reference Area since it is already the approved revegetation success standard of the Big Sagebrush vegetation type at the NH2 Mine. Irrigated Pasture. Disturbance to all lands corresponding to the Irrigated Pasture vegetation type (IP) shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit Area Vegetation Map will be reclaimed according to the desires of the existing land owners. Mr. George Glasier, owner of the Glasier property has stipulated in his lease with WFC that WFC will only be getting his land and not the water associated with this tract. This condition essentially requires that all of irrigated pasture areas on his land must be reclaimed as dryland pasture, since he has transferred his water rights to his Silver Hawk property located on the San Miguel River near the Tri -State power plant. Mr. Thomas Meehan has made similar requests of WFC relative to the irrigated pasture portions on his property. The Garvey Brothers have stipulated in their lease with WFC, that all of the existing land uses and hence corresponding vegetation types on their property must be reclaimed to their predisturbance conditions. This means that only the Irrigated Pasture lands on the Garvey Property will be reclaimed as irrigated pasture. The reference area approach will be used to document final revegetation success of lands reclaimed as Irrigated Pasture vegetation areas. Upon comparing the required plant parameters of plant cover and production between the proposed Irrigated Pasture predisturbance areas and the Irrigated Pasture reference area, and using the "t- test" pre - mining comparison found on page 16 of the Division's Guidelines for Compliance with Land Use and Vegetation Requirements for Coal Mining, the calculated t value for plant cover was determined to equal 0.6231 and the calculated t value for forage production was determined to equal 0.0892. The corresponding tabular t value for plant cover was determined to be equal to 2.008 and 1.982 for production. Since the calculated t values are less than the corresponding tabular t values, it can be concluded that the Irrigated Pasture predisturbance area is statistically similar to the Irrigated Pasture Reference Areas with respect to the required parameters of plant cover and forage production. Drvland Pasture. Disturbance to all areas corresponding to the Dryland Pasture vegetation type (DP) shown on Map 2.04.10 -1, Permit Area Vegetation Map as corresponding to the DP areas, will be reclaimed according to the currently approved land use of dryland pasture. The currently approved Dryland Pasture Reference Area is located on the west side of the Hopkins Field Airport. No changes are proposed beyond what the DRMS has already approved for this site in the existing NH2 Mine Permit. Since DRMS has already approved the proposed revegetation success standards for this type, no changes are being proposed for this vegetation type. Upon comparing the proposed Dryland Pasture disturbance areas with the existing Dryland Pasture Reference area, it can be determined that the calculated t value for total plant cover equals 4.71 and the calculated t value for forage production equals 0.1918. The corresponding tt Section 2.04.10 Page 32 November 2011