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Seneca 11 Mine <br />SL -6 Phase 111 Bond Release Request <br />June 2014 <br />Livestock grazing has been conducted annually since then and livestock numbers have <br />increased as more reclaimed acres have become available and the vegetation has <br />continued to mature. Stocking rates have been developed from ongoing vegetation <br />monitoring data and a goal of a proper use at 50% forage utilization has been a basis of <br />management. Annual precipitation and the effects on current year's production are <br />factored into management as well. Grazing on the smaller Seneca II Mine is managed in <br />conjunction with the larger adjacent Peabody Sage Creek Mine (PSCM) reclaimed areas. <br />Results of grazing are presented in the Seneca II and PSCM Annual Reclamation Reports <br />for each year since 1988. <br />Bond Release Background Information <br />In 2006, the original Seneca II Mine was divided into five (5) bond release blocks (BRB 1, 2, 3, 4 <br />and 5) to aid in vegetation data collection and analysis for Phase II and Phase III bond release. <br />In 2010 with approval of the PSCM permit, much of the reclaimed lands contained in the Seneca <br />II Mine BRB areas were transferred to PSCM, leaving only a small remaining portion of lands <br />(386.5 acres) within the Seneca II Mine permit (see PR -02 for the Seneca II Mine approved on <br />January 19, 2011). This Phase III bond release application includes BRB -3 areas which were <br />revegetated from 1989 through 1995 and BRB -4 and BRB -5 areas which were revegetated from <br />1997 through 2003. Phase II bond release has been approved for the requested Phase III block <br />in SL-3 and SL -5. <br />Phase III bond release is being requested for all remaining reclaimed lands at the Seneca II Mine. <br />These lands have established vegetation that has met the minimum ten year liability period and <br />are able to support the approved post - mining land use. Phase III revegetation success <br />evaluations were based on the applicable success standard requirements spelled out in Appendix <br />13 -13 of the Seneca II permit, Rules 3.03.1(2) (c), 3.03.1(4) and 4.15.8 and the Division's <br />Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues (April 1995). Revegetation success <br />is demonstrated by meeting the appropriate cover, production, woody density and species <br />diversity success standards based on statistically valid sampling. Species composition and <br />diversity requirements are assessed through the vegetation cover data and evaluations using a <br />species diversity assessment included in Appendix 13 -13 of the Seneca II Mine permit. <br />4 <br />