2013-06-18_REVISION - C1980006 (8)

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PHASE III Establishment of a Permanent Self- sustaining Vegetation Community Total Vegetative Cover Total vegetative cover on the reclaimed areas at the mine site and the loadout exceeded the cover measured on the respective reference areas in both 2009 and 2010; reclamation at both the mine site and the loadout were found by the Division to be successful for total vegetative cover. Results are shown in Table 1. The two parcels at the mine site were sampled as one reclamation area since both parcels were seeded in 1999 with the same seed mix and have similar aspect and elevation. Both reference areas and the reclamation areas (both mine site and loadout) were sampled to statistical adequacy. Table 1 Total Vegetative Cover (values in percents) Parcel 2009 2010 Alkali Sagebrush 32.13 37.60 Reference Area Mine Reclamation Area 33.94 42.80 Loadout Reference Area 26.60 33.93 Loadout 32.85 39.97 Reclamation Area Herbaceous Productivity Herbaceous productivity on the reclaimed areas was compared to herbaceous productivity on the respective reference areas, and the Division found both the mine site and the loadout to be successful for this parameter for both 2009 and 2010. In all cases, herbaceous productivity on the reclaimed areas greatly exceeded the herbaceous productivity measured on the reference areas, as much as 10 times in some cases. Results are shown in Table 2. In some cases, statistical sample adequacy for herbaceous productivity was only achieved by using reverse null calculations. Table 2 Herbaceous Productivity (values in pounds per acre) Parcel 2009 2010 Alkali Sagebrush 99.1 126.5 Reference Area Mine Reclamation Area 1,098.1 1,509 Loadout Reference Area 165.4 208.5 Loadout 690.0 951.6 Reclamation Area