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seedmix. The introduced species are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved post - mining <br />land use, and are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2). Introduced species comprise approximately <br />6.1 % of the seeding rate for the lowland mix and 4.3 % of the seeding rate for the upland mix, on a <br />seeds /sq.ft. basis. <br />B. The Division has approved the use of wood fiber, grass hay, or straw mulch as a means to meet soil <br />stabilization requirements (4.15.4). Hay or straw will be certified noxious weed -free. <br />C. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and woody plant density, <br />applicable to "Fish and Wildlife Habitat" postmining land use areas, are discussed in Section <br />2.05.4, Tab 14, Volume 5, of the permit. These techniques include point intercept cover sampling <br />quadrat production, and belt transect woody plant density sampling. Appropriate methods for <br />sample adequacy demonstration and statistical comparison are specified. Quantitative sampling <br />techniques and comparison methods are not applicable to "Industrial or Commercial' postmining <br />land use areas. <br />The proposed success measurement techniques are approved by the Division (4.15.7(1)). <br />D. Comparisons between reclaimed and undisturbed areas, in order to demonstrate that success <br />criteria of 4.15.8 have been met, for "Fish and Wildlife Habitat" postmining land use areas, will be <br />based on the following: <br />The Division has approved of the reference areas which the permittee has selected based on the <br />requirements of Rule 4.15.7(3). The reference areas will be utilized to determine revegetation <br />success in a manner which the Division finds acceptable (4.15.7(4)). <br />Technical standards are proposed for woody plant density and species diversity success <br />determination, pursuant to Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)(111). The standard for woody plant density is 800 <br />woody plant stems per acre. The Division has approved the standard after consultation with the <br />Division of Wildlife, pursuant to Rule 4.15.8(7). <br />The species diversity standard is specified on page 14 -24. The standard is as follows: <br />- Total perennial cool season grass species > 0.5% relative cover; <br />- Total perennial warm season grass species > 2% relative cover; <br />- Total perennial forbs and suffrutescent species > 0.5% relative cover, <br />- No reclaimed area shall have a single species that represents greater than 70% relative <br />cover, with the exception of annual grasses. The annual grass component shall not exceed <br />70% relative cover unless the annual grass component in the corresponding reference area <br />also exceeds 70 %. In such cases, the relative cover of the annual grass component of the <br />reclaimed area shall not exceed the relative cover of the annual grass component in the <br />reference area by more than 5 %. <br />The Division finds that the proposed standard will satisfy the species diversity and seasonal variety <br />requirements of Rules 4.15.8(5) and 4.15.8(6). <br />X. Alternative Land Uses <br />44 <br />