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unconsolidated substrate following reclamation grading and topsoiling will be more <br />conducive to the establishment of a sagebrush/grass community than a pinyon juniper <br />community. The seed mixture contains a diverse assemblage of adapted native shrubs, <br />grasses, and forbs. The sagebrush reference area will be used in comparisons of <br />revegetation success for vegetation cover and herbaceous production for all mine area <br />permanent reclamation. <br />Pursuant to Rule 2.07.6(2)(n) the Division has determined that no threatened or endangered <br />species of plants will be affected by operations at the Munger Canyon site, based on <br />information supplied by the applicant, Biological Assessment prepared by OSM, and <br />memorandum of concurrence provided by USWFS (see Table 4.6 -9 and Appendix L(iii) of <br />the permit application. The following additional specific findings are required. <br />1. The Division proposes to approve the use of an introduced species in the reclamation <br />seed mix. The applicant has submitted information which shows that the introduced <br />species are desirable and necessary to achieve the approved post - mining land use, and <br />are not poisonous or noxious (4.15.2). The only introduced species approved is <br />Kochia prostrata, a drought tolerant, salt tolerant half shrub approved for use at the <br />Loma Loadout. There are no introduced species in the Big Sagebrush Shrubland <br />Seed Mixture approved for final reclamation in the mine area, nor are there any <br />introduced species in the stabilization seedmix approved for the mine area. <br />2. The Division proposes to approve the use of certified noxious weed -free grass hay or <br />straw mulch as a means to meet soil stabilization requirements (4.15.4). Soil <br />stabilization and moisture retention will be further enhanced by the preparation of an <br />extensively roughened seedbed, using track -hoe gouging or comparable methods. <br />3. Methods to measure herbaceous cover and production, species diversity, and woody <br />plant density are discussed in Sections 3.9 and 4.8 of Volume I. The application <br />further indicates that statistical tests of success will follow procedures recommended <br />in the Division's bond release guideline. The Division proposes to approve of the <br />specified techniques (4.15.7(1)). <br />4. Comparisons between reclaimed and undisturbed areas, in order to demonstrate that <br />success criteria of 4.15.8, 4.15.9, or 4.15.10 have been met, will include use of <br />reference area comparison for vegetation cover and herbaceous production, and <br />technical standards for woody plant density and species diversity (Rule 4.15.7(2)(d)). <br />The mine area woody plant density standard is 500 stems per acre. Species diversity <br />standard requires that a minimum of three perennial species shall each provide a <br />minimum of 3% relative cover, that two of the species be perennial cool season <br />grasses, and that no individual species comprise greater than 60% relative cover. The <br />Division proposes to approve these success standard comparison approaches. <br />There is no quantitative standard for the Loma Loadout, due to the fact that pre -mine <br />31 <br />