2012-09-06_REPORT - C1980006 (2)

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When IME sampled this site in 2005, total herbaceous forage production averaged 15.30 g/1 /4m or 545.3 pounds of air -dry forage per acre. Perennial grasses contributed 12.38 g/1 /4m or 80.92 percent of the total forage production and perennial forbs contributed 0.09 g/1 /4m or 19.08 percent of the total forage production. The locations of the 30 production transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 7, Tipple Reclamation - Vegetation Transect Location Map. The sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, Kerr Mine Sample Adequacy Calculations, document that the number of production transects required to characterize the perennial herbaceous forage production on this site at the 90 percent statistical confidence interval was 113.4 transects. Since the reclaimed area production value (19.36 g/1 /4m or 690 pounds of air -dry forage per acre) exceeds the revegetation success standard of 4.64 g/1 /4m or 165.4 pounds of air -dry forage per acre, it can be concluded that this area satisfies the sample adequacy requirements with respect to forage production. Shrub Density. The shrub density counts obtained from the sampling of the 30 belt transects taken in this area are summarized in Table 15, Tipple Reclamation - Shrub Density. The average shrub density was determined to equal 196.03 shrubs per one hundred square meters or 7,933.3 shrubs per acre. Rubber Rabbitbrush, Wyoming Big Sagebrush and Douglas Rabbitbrush were the most commonly encountered shrubs. The revegetation shrub density success standard for this reclaimed site is 1,500 stems per acre 37.06 stems per 100 m . Since this site averaged 7,933.3 shrubs per acre and sample adequacy was achieved for shrub density sampling using the reverse null statistical test, it can be concluded by direct comparison that this area satisfies the revegetation success standard with respect to shrub density. When IME sampled this site in 2005, they report that shrub density averaged 159.67 shrubs per one hundred square meters or 6,461.8 shrubs per acre. The locations of the 30 shrub density transects sampled on this site are shown on Map 7, Tipple Reclamation - Vegetation Transect Location Map. Examination of the sample adequacy calculations in Table 2, Kerr Mine Sample Adequacy Calculations, reveals the number of samples required to characterize the shrub density on this reclaimed site at the 90 percent statistical confidence interval was 3.83 transects. Since the actual shrub density counts on the reclaimed site (7,933.3 shrubs per acre) exceeds the approved standard (1,500 stems per acre), using the DRMS regulations, sample adequacy is achieved with 30 transects. Species Diversity. The forage quality index calculations for this site are found in Table 16, Tipple Reclamation - Forage Quality Index Calculations. As are documented in these calculations, the forage quality index value for the Tipple Reclamation at the Kerr Tipple Site as sampled in 2009 was determined to equal 310.33. Since the forage quality index value of 310.33 on the Tipple Reclamation site exceeds the Tipple Reference Area value of 210.18, it can be concluded that the species diversity /forage quality value has been satisfied on the Tipple Reclaimed site located at the Kerr Tipple. 12