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samples were collected to describe the parameters of "total plant cover," production and shrub <br />density at the 90 percent confidence interval or until the required reverse null standard, as <br />defined in Section 4.15.1 lof the regulations was satisfied. <br />Transect Locations. All of the cover, production and shrub density transects sampled for each <br />different reclamation and reference area evaluated are shown on the enclosed maps. The specific <br />details corresponding to each reclamation area or reference area sampled will be discussed in <br />connection with the discussion pertaining to each site. <br />ALKALI SAGEBRUSH REFERENCE AREA <br />Cover. The results obtained from the 15 cover transects sampled on this site are found in Table <br />3, Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area - Plant Cover. Total plant cover on this site averaged 32.13 <br />percent and litter averaged 23.20 percent (Table 3, Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area - Plant <br />Cover.) <br />Shrubs dominated the plant cover on this site, contributing 22.20 percent of the total cover or <br />69.10 percent of the total relative cover on this reference area. Perennial grasses contributed a <br />total of 6.33 percent of the total cover and 19.71 percent of the total relative cover on this site. <br />Perennial forbs contributed a total of 3.40 percent or 10.58 percent of the total relative cover on <br />this site. <br />Alkali Sagebrush was the dominant plant species growing on this site, contributing a total of <br />12.60 percent of the total cover and 39.22 percent of the total relative cover on this site. Douglas <br />Rabbitbrush, Wyoming Big Sagebrush, Western Wheatgrass and Carpet Phlox were the other <br />dominants on this site, contributing 19.71, 9.75, 5.39 and 4.98 percent, respectively, of the total <br />relative cover on this area. <br />Table 26 of the Kerr Permit states that when sampled in 1980, the total plant cover on this site <br />averaged 3 8. 0 percent. When RMR sampled this site in 1996, they reported that the total plant <br />cover averaged 50.16 percent. In their 1999 sampling of this site, ESCO reported that total plant <br />cover averaged 33.4 percent. When IME sampled this site in 2005, they reported that total plant <br />cover averaged 31.07 percent. <br />The locations of the 15 cover transects sampled on this site in 2009 are shown on Map 1, Alkali <br />Sagebrush Reference Area - Vegetation Transect Location Map. The sample adequacy <br />calculations in Table 2, Kerr Mine Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of <br />samples required to describe this site at the 90 percent confidence interval was 3.4 transects. <br />Production. The results obtained from the sampling of the 30 production transects on the Alkali <br />Sagebrush Reference Area are presented in Table 4, Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area - <br />Production. Total herbaceous forage production on this location averaged 2.78 g/1 /4m or 99.1 <br />pounds or air -dry forage per acre. Perennial grasses averaged 2.17 g/1 /4m and contributed <br />78.06 percent of the total herbaceous forage and perennial forbs, contributed an average of 0.61 <br />g/1 /4m or 29.94 percent of the forage produced on this site. There were no annuals or noxious <br />