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RECLAMATION PLAN <br /> Pre-Mine Vegetation Mapping and Sampling <br /> "Pre-mine" vegetation mapping delineated three (3) vegetation communities within <br /> the EPA. No communities were mapped within the WPA as this area was apparently <br /> exempted from vegetation studies. The communities identified in the EPA are Willow <br /> carr (riparian), Ponderosa pine-oak and Ponderosa pine-Douglas fir-oak. Aerial photo <br /> interpretation of 1982 photos taken by Associated Surveys, Inc. suggest the "pre-mine" <br /> vegetation map is accurate for the Willow carr (riparian) community. The Ponderosa <br /> pine-oak areal extent is questionable. It is unlikely the Ponderosa pine-oak extended to <br /> the river. Regardless, the Division found vegetation studies inadequate because a <br /> precision value of 0.2 instead of 0.1 was used to calculate sample adequacy. In addition, <br /> the Division found if the three (3) communities independently comprised less than 5 <br /> percent of the life-of-mine disturbance, additional sampling would not be required. <br /> There has been minimal disturbance in the Ponderosa pine-Douglas fir-oak <br /> community. Approximately 20 acres of Willow carr (riparian) area has been disturbed. <br /> Thus, the Willow carr (riparian) area comprises greater than 5 percent of the proposed <br /> life-of-mine disturbance. (The surface disturbance area as defined here includes the <br /> entire area delineated on Figure 1; seventy (70) acres south of Highway 12 and sixty-six <br /> (66) acres north of Highway 12 which includes the refuse disposal area.) As mapped in the <br /> 1981 study, the Ponderosa-pine-oak would comprise more than 5 percent of the total life- <br /> of-mine disturbance. Interpretation of the 1982 aerial photos shows the only disturbance <br /> in this community to be 2.0 acres or 1 percent of the disturbance area. That disturbance <br /> includes the roads to water tank in the WPA and EPA. <br /> Additional Vegetation Sampling <br /> Because of questionable mapping, the large areal extent of Ponderosa pine-oak south <br /> of the surface disturbance area, the limited disturbance shown on recent photos and no <br /> additional disturbance planned in this community, WFC requests the Division to remove <br /> any additional sampling requirements. WFC will commit to resample in the Willow carr <br /> (riparian) community. WFC will resample the Willow carr (riparian) reference area, but <br /> -3- <br />