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data found in Table A5. Vegetation cover statistics for each transect, Irrigated Pasture <br />reference area 2008, of that report, have been modified to confirm to the current bond <br />release requirements found on page 6 of the DRMS Bond Release Guideline and to the <br />current NH2 Mine Permit definitions. These revised data are presented in Appendix 1 - <br />Table 2, Irrigated Pasture Reference Area - 2008 Plant Cover. <br />The percent absolute cover by species, rock, bare ground, litter and relative cover are <br />found in Appendix 1 - Table 2, Irrigated Pasture Reference Area - 2008 Plant Cover <br />of this report. "Allowable plant cover" averaged 58.00 percent. Application of the <br />sample adequacy equation found in Rule 4.15.11(2)(a), to the "allowable plant cover" of <br />this site, resulted in sample adequacy at the 90 percent confidence level being achieved <br />with 10.3 transects and 16 transects were sampled. Sufficient data were collected from <br />both the Irrigated Pasture Reclaimed Area and Irrigated Pasture Reference Area to <br />satisfy the required sample adequacy requirements. <br />3. Continued: Vegetation establishment will be considered to be successful if the <br />cover the revegetated area is at least 90 percent of the cover from the reference area <br />or standard with 90 percent confidence interval (Rule 4.15.8). <br />Response: The "allowable plant cover" from the Phase II Irrigated Pasture Reclaimed <br />area as sampled in 2008 is found in Appendix 1 -Table 1, Irrigated Pasture <br />Reclamation Phase II Study Area - 2008 Plant Cover averaged 72.35 percent, while <br />the 2008 "allowable plant cover" as found in Appendix 1 - Table 2, Irrigated Pasture <br />Reference Area - 2008 Plant Cover averaged 58.00 percent, according, the final plant <br />cover success standard would be 90 percent of 58.00 or 52.20 percent. Since sample <br />adequacy was achieved for both areas, according to Rule 4.15.11(2)(a), revegetation <br />success can be demonstrated by direct comparison. Since the "allowable plant cover "on <br />the reclaimed site (72.35 percent) exceeds the revegetation standard of 52.20 percent, <br />revgetation success is demonstrated for "allowable plant cover" on the Phase II Irrigated <br />Pasture Reclaimed Area. <br />3. Continued: Species Composition will be evaluated using the species relative cover <br />to determine whether the vegetation exhibits seasonality and species composition <br />supportive of the approved post- mining land use. At a minimum, all species required <br />to meet final diversity and seasonality requirements should be represented in the Phase <br />II sampling data. Planting or seeding of woody species shall have been completed in <br />accordance with the approved plan, and appropriate woody species should be <br />represented in the reclaimed stand. <br />Response: According to Permit Section 2.04.5(2)(e) Revegetation, there are no species <br />diversity, seasonality or woody plant density revegetation success standards for the <br />Irrigated Pasture Reclaimed areas at the New Horizon 2 Mine. Therefore, these items <br />do not apply to this Phase II bond release request. <br />SL -14 03DEC12.wpd 26 <br />