2014-11-14_REVISION - C1980005

• Permit No: C1980005
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 11/14/2014
• Doc Name: Vegetation Review Memo
• From: Janet Binns
• To: Jason Musick
• Type & Sequence: SL6
• Email Name: JHB
• Email Name: JDM
• Email Name: MPB
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM
TO:
JASON MUSICK
FROM:
JANET BINNS
SUBJECT:
SENECA II MINE, SL6 VEGETATION REVIEW
DATE:
11/14/2014
CC:
MIKE BOULAY
I have reviewed Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) application for phase III bond release on 271.2
acres at the Seneca II mine. I have no adequacy concerns with the SL6 application. The
following summary of the application can be incorporated into the SL6 findings document.
All areas requested for phase III bond release have previously received phase I and II bond
release. Previous phase I and II bond releases for the requested bond release blocks were
approved with SLI, SL3, SL4, and SL5. Reclamation parcels were reclaimed between 1989 and
2012. Vegetation sampling was conducted during 2011 and 2012. All parcels have met the
minimum liability period as required by rule 3.02.3(2)(b). The approved post- mining land use is
rangeland and wildlife habitat.
SCC has implemented an annual grazing plan on reclaimed lands at Seneca II Mine since 1987.
SCC's grazing plan takes into account the available forage biomass. SCC stocks livestock at an
appropriate capacity to leave no less than 50% of the available forage biomass. Grazing was
conducted annually between mid -July through mid - September.
The vegetation success standards for the Seneca II Mine are found in Appendix 13 -13 of the
permit. SCC uses a weighted average approach utilizing two reference areas representing a
sagebrush community and a mountain brush community. Reclamation success for vegetative
cover requires a summation of the weighted average vegetative cover of the two reference areas,
multiplied by a factor of two. The allowable vegetative cover of the reclaimed Bond Release
Block (BRB) shall equal or exceed 90% of this calculated value. Weighted values of the two
reference areas is based on the percentage of the pre- disturbance acreage composed of each
vegetation community. The mean allowable vegetative cover of the Sagebrush reference area is
multiplied by 17 %, while the mean allowable vegetative cover of the mountain brush reference
area is multiplied by 83 %. These two values are added together, then multiplied by a factor of
two. Due to a high variance in the vegetation sampling results, SCC was unable to achieve
sample adequacy for the 2012 productivity sampling of the sagebrush reference area. However,
an excess of 30 transects were collected, allowing for application of Rule 4.15.11(2)(c).
Due to a difference in precipitation available for vegetative growth between sample years, 2011
and 2012, there was a marked difference in sample results between the two years. Sample results
from the reference areas reflect this variance as well.