2012-09-06_REPORT - C1980006 (2)

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Plant Cover. Plant cover was evaluated by sampling along the outstretched 50 -meter transect tape. Along the outstretched tape, a total of ten previously identified and randomly selected intervals were used as the sample locations for sampling. These ten points were then used as the sample locations for collecting plant cover. At each designated sample point, an inclined metal ten -point frame, one meter in height was positioned perpendicular to the tape and a sharpened metal rod was dropped. Each sampling point was sampled at ten - centimeter intervals along the ten -point frame. Even numbers were sampled on the right -hand side of the tape and odd numbers were sampled on the left -hand side of the tape. Each observation was recorded as to the specific plant species encountered as the rod was dropped. If no plant cover was encountered, then the observation was recorded as to the presence of plant litter, rock, bare ground, lichens or cryptograms. Plant material produced in the 2009 growing season which was still attached to the plant was considered as living plant material and all plant material produced in prior years or which had fallen to the ground was considered to be litter. The 100 data points collected along each transect were then summarized into a single datum for purposes of statistical analysis. Absolute and relative plant cover, species diversity, and plant life forms were determined based upon the observations collected in sampling the plant cover. As outlined in the Kerr Permit and as approved by the Division, the plant cover standard at the Marr Mine is based on a "total cover standard," which means that all plant cover including annual and biennial plants and listed noxious weeds are sampled and counted toward the cover standard. At the Marr Mine, the reclamation cover and production success standards are based on reference areas standards, wherein the potential revegetation success standards are based upon a "weighted average" value based upon the acreage of each vegetation type disturbed by mining. However, since a comparison of the pre - mining vegetation map documents that all of the area associated with the 1999 Reclamation Block is associated with the Alkali Sagebrush Vegetation Type; approval was obtained from the DRMS to sample only the Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area and use these data as the revegetation success standard. Therefore, the values for plant cover and production obtained from the sampling of the Alkali Sagebrush Reference Area were the standards used to calculate an overall success standard for these two parameters. Production. On all of the Reclamation Blocks and Reference Areas sampled, a simple random statistical sampling approach was used. Within the boundaries of the designated area being sampled, all production clip plots were randomly located and along each transect, and a total of three randomly located one - quarter square meter circular plots were clipped. The three plots were clipped by life forms for perennial grasses and perennial forbs. The Kerr Permit states that production will be based upon total production, which includes annuals and noxious weeds, but these two plant life forms were not encountered in the production sampling. This was the same transect used for cover and shrub density sampling. The three clip plots were averaged into a single transect datum for purposes of statistical analysis. Since the Division's Vegetation Guideline recommends that annuals and biennials, noxious weeds and shrub production are typically not clipped, but since the Kerr Permit requires that the production revegetation success