2013-04-18_PERMIT FILE - C2009087A (3)

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RULE 2 - PERMITS 2.05.4(2)(e)(vi) Determining Reveutation Success Revegetation success will be detennined based on the results of revegetation monitoring in accordance with the applicable Sections of 4.15.7, Determining Revegetation Success — General Requirements and Standards, 4.15.8, Revegetation Success Criteria, 4.15.9, Revegetation Success Criteria: Cropland, 4.15.10, Revegetation Success Criteria: Previously Mined Lands; Areas to be Developed for Industrial or Residential Use, and 4.15.11, Revegetation Sampling Methods and Statistical Demonstrations for Revegetation Success. PSCM reclaimed area monitoring will occur in the third or fourth, ninth, and tenth year following permanent seeding, and unless sampling is to statistical adequacy, will not be used for revegetation success statistical evaluations but may be used to support revegetation success discussions. Revegetation success will comply with Section 4.15.11 and will be evaluated on the parameters of cover, production, diversity, and woody plant density by comparing statistically adequate quantitative data from the reclaimed area and reference area or approved technical standards. At the time of revegetation success evaluations and periodically during monitoring, quantitative vegetation data will be collected from the current sagebrush grassland reference area previously established for the Seneca II mine and to be used for PSCM revegetation success evaluations. This reference area was established to represent the native sagebrush grassland communities in and around the Seneca II Mine. The size of the reference area was recently approved for a reconfiguration in area but at the same location and with approximately 4 acres available. The sagebrush grassland reference area is representative of the majority of native land new disturbance and most closely represents the established reclaimed lands to be disturbed incidental to PSCM underground mining operations. Over 65 percent of this area will encompass previously reclaimed lands, while approximately 16 percent of the new disturbance will affect sagebrush grassland and a small portion of mesic drainage. Mountain brush disturbance is less than two percent. The remaining 17 percent is comprised of roads, facilities and water. The established Seneca II Mine mountain brush reference is not applicable to PSCM success evaluations, but will continue for use in revegetation success evaluations for Seneca II Mine lands transferred to PSCM and as described in Exhibit 2.05.4 -E1. The already approved reclamation success standards remain in effect for previously reclaimed Seneca II Mine lands transferred to the PSCM permit area but will not be redisturbed incidental to PSCM underground mining operations These standards and supporting discussion are presented in Exhibit 2.05.4 -E1 of this PAP. These reclaimed lands, based on regulatory program period or age of reclamation, have been designated Bond Release Blocks 1-5 (BRB 1 -5). Significant acreages of these reclaimed lands have undergone partial or full bond release. Portions of BRB 3 and all or part of BRB 4 and BRB 5 require either Phase II, Phase III, or both Phase 11 and Phase III bond release. The vegetation evaluations and standards for testing reclamation adequacy on these former Seneca II permit area lands, including weight averaging sagebrush grassland and mountain brush reference data for cover and production, and approving Phase II and Phase III bond release for Seneca II reclaimed lands now within the PSCM permit boundary, remain as originally approved for the Seneca II Mine. In particular, the woody density standard for those Seneca 11 reclaimed lands incorporated into the PSCM permit area remain as 200 stems per acre background and 2000 stems per acre in concentrated shrub areas. Sampling Intensity - Consistent with the on -going revegetation monitoring and sampling program for the Seneca II Mine, quantitative cover and production sampling will be assessed at sample locations using the methods outlined for these parameters below. TR -03 2.05 -47 Revision 06/13/2012