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A discussion of Colowyo's woody stem density is found in the original findings document. <br />Stipulation No. 5, a requirement to set a woody stem density standard for Colowyo Mine, was <br />satisfied on January 2, 1985. The woody stem density requirement was determined through <br />discussions with representatives of the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, Soil <br />Conservation Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife, CMLRD, Colowyo Energy Fuels, and <br />Utah International. The woody plant density success criterion at Colowyo for disturbed areas <br />other than at the Collom project area has been set at 1,000 live stems per acre. Pre -mine <br />inventory and reference area woody plant density measurements were taken along three -foot- <br />wide belts located along 100 - foot -long transects. Similar methodology should be employed when <br />determining post - reclamation success. <br />Colowyo will employ similar methods and reclamation success standards to the Collom <br />expansion area. Cover and productivity parameters will be determined by acreage weighted <br />comparison to three reference areas: Mountain Shrub reference area, Sagebrush reference area <br />and Grassland reference area. The proportion of the pre- mining plant communities in the area <br />proposed to be disturbed by the PR -3 mine plan represented by the reference areas is 39% <br />Mountain Shrub, 47% Sagebrush, and 14% Grassland. The weighted reference area approach <br />will be utilized for revegetation success comparison on the reclaimed Grassland community. <br />The reclaimed Sagebrush steppe community will be compared directly to the Sagebrush <br />Reference Area. <br />Herbaceous cover on the reclaimed Collom expansion area Grassland community will be <br />considered adequate for final bond release if it is not less than 90% of the herbaceous cover from <br />the three acreage weighted reference areas with a 90% statistical confidence (standard student's <br />t -test comparison of the means),as described in Section 4.14.8, Volume 15. Herbaceous cover on <br />the targeted Sagebrush steppe community will be considered adequate for bond release if it is not <br />less than 70% of the Sagebrush reference area's herbaceous production with a 90% statistical <br />confidence (standard student's t -test comparison of the means). These success criteria are in <br />agreement with Rule 4.15.8(3)(a)(ii). <br />Herbaceous production on the reclaimed Collom expansion area Grassland community will be <br />considered adequate for final bond release if it is not less than 90% of the herbaceous production <br />from the three acreage weighted reference areas with a 90% statistical confidence (standard <br />student's t -test comparison of the means), Section 4.14.8, Volume 15. Herbaceous production on <br />the targeted Sagebrush steppe community will be considered adequate for bond release if it is not <br />less than 70% of the sagebrush reference area's herbaceous cover with a 90% statistical <br />confidence (standard student's t -test comparison of the means).] <br />The targeted reclaimed Collom expansion area Grassland community will be exempt from a <br />woody plant success standard. The Sagebrush steppe reclaimed community "core" areas as <br />defined in 4.15.8 of the PAP require 500 live woody plants per acre. In "ecotonal" areas, the <br />reclamation standard is 375 woody plants per acre. Colowyo commits to establishing <br />Colowyo Coal Mine C1981 -019 PR -03 64 April 10, 2013 <br />