Laserfiche WebLink
INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed and reference areas at Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) Seneca IN <br />Mine was undertaken in 2014 by ESCO Associates for formal testing of Revegetation Success in <br />application for Phase II Bond Release. Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those specified in <br />a study plan submitted by SCC to Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (ESCO 2005b) and the <br />2014 Scope of Work for vegetation sampling provided by SCC. <br />METHODS <br />Phase 11 Bond Release Block 2b Sampling <br />All eligible Seneca IN reclaimed lands not already released from Phase II liability (Map 1) were sampled <br />for cover to provide information that would support an application for Phase II bond release for those <br />lands designated as Bond Release Block 2b (BRB -2b). These lands included areas seeded between <br />2006 and 2008 and total 290.3 ac. These areas do not include areas reworked as part of drainage repair <br />during the summer of 2012. Sample areas and sample locations are shown on Map 1, Phase II BRB2a <br />2014 Monitoring Locations. <br />Reference Area Sampling <br />The Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush, Steep Mountain Brush and Western Wheatgrass /Alkali <br />Sagebrush Extended Reference Areas of the IIWS portion of the permit area were sampled to provide <br />cover and production data for comparison with reclaimed area data. Reference Area sampling locations <br />are shown on Map 2, Extended Reference Area 2014 Sample Locations. <br />1 <br />