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40 Sample Adequacy and Statistical Testing to Demonstrate Revegetation Success <br />The four reference area community types will each be sampled to statistical adequacy with a minimum <br />sample size of 15 ( "standard null" or one sample "reverse null" approaches for success <br />demonstration) or a minimum sample size of 30 (two- sample reverse null approach if sample <br />adequacy is not achieved in one or more of the reference types). Statistical testing will be used when <br />the parameter sample mean for the reclaimed area is less than 90 percent of the standard. A one - <br />sample t -test will be used in testing the hypothesis that the true mean of the reclaimed area is <br />indistinguishable from the number representing 90 percent of the standard. Hypothesis testing, as <br />well as the sample adequacy formulas used when hypothesis testing is required, will be consistent with <br />Rule 4.15.11 or the most current applicable rules for revegetation success evaluations and the <br />Division's related most current guidelines for vegetation and bond release. <br />The revegetation success parameters to be tested are cover, production, woody density, and species <br />diversity. <br />Cover. <br />For the shrub grassland reclaimed area type, successful revegetation for the cover parameter will be <br />evaluated as follows. Cover data will be collected from the above four described native vegetation <br />types within the designated extended reference area to develop the weight averaged standard. The <br />cover success for the concentrated shrub and tree establishment sites will be included in the sampling <br />of the wider universe. The herbaceous cover in each of the four vegetation types will be represented <br />by the "all-hit" measure of cover in which the full extent of a species cover, whether or not it is <br />overlapped by the canopy of another species is independently assessed. Although the cover of trunks, <br />branches, twigs, and leaves of shrubs and trees is common in the woody vegetation types, the <br />herbaceous component exhibits extensive cover. <br />An average of the all-hit herbaceous cover of the extended reference area types, weighted by their <br />extent in the premining area to be affected by mine disturbance, will be calculated as per the following <br />formula using "all-hit" total herbaceous vegetation cover data: <br />xrev? 0.90 ((Aa) (xn) + (MBa)(xmB) + (SMBa) (xsmB) + (SB.)(xsB)) <br />where: _ <br />xrev Average all-hit total vegetation cover for revegetated area <br />170 1 <br />35 <br />Revised 10/10 <br />