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1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />This report presents the 2014 results of quantitative vegetation sampling in support of a <br />request for Phase III bond release for eligible reclamation areas at the West Elk Mine <br />(CDRMS permit C-80-007) owned and operated by MCC. Quantitative vegetative sampling <br />is required by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) <br />whenever a permittee requests a release from liability and/or bond in Phase III of the bond <br />release process. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined <br />Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining Rules 2.04. 10 and 4.15 at the time of sampling and <br />current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling for the areas monitored was <br />conducted between June 16 and 19, 2014 and June 30, 2014 by Savage and Savage, Inc. <br />biologists. <br />The West Elk Mine site is located in Gunnison County, Colorado, approximately 1.8 miles <br />east of Somerset, Colorado and is accessed by Colorado Highway 133. MCC has operated <br />the West Elk Mine since 1981. Reclaimed areas sampled in 2014 were backfilled, graded, <br />topsoiled, and revegetated in accordance with the approved mining and reclamation plan. <br />The reclaimed sites sampled this year were formerly drill sites and access roads constructed <br />for coal exploration and mine methane ventilation. Reclamation activities took place <br />between 2002 and 2004 and included plugging of the drill holes, backfilling and regrading <br />the drill sites and roads, replacing topsoil, reseeding and mulching, and installing erosion <br />control materials. <br />The revegetation standards used to evaluate these areas are those currently in effect under the <br />Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the West Elk <br />Mining and Reclamation Permit (C-80-007). <br />2.0 METHODS <br />2.1 SAMPLING DESIGN <br />Prior to initiation of fieldwork, the permit document and applicable maps were reviewed to <br />evaluate topography, reclamation timing, seed mixes, revegetation methods, management, <br />and applicable revegetation standards. <br />A map of the mine site at 1:14,400 scale (1 "=1200') was used to identify, locate and delineate <br />the reclaimed areas (MCC Reclamation Photograph Project 2010). As the reclaimed areas <br />are spread out over approximately 10,000 acres and the sites range from 0.1 to 8.5 acres in <br />size, standard methods of gridding the reclaimed areas and generating random sample points <br />were not practical. Further, as the reclaimed areas ranged in age from ten (10) to twelve (12) <br />years in age, it was desirable to obtain a representative sampling of the age structure in the <br />sampling. <br />From the map it was determined that the reclaimed areas were located in twenty-two (22) <br />distinct parcels within the Dry Fork drainage parcel. The reclaimed sites, their areal extent, <br />and age were entered into a Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet. <br />Mountain Coal Company, I.I.0 West Elk Mine Page 2 <br />2014 Vegetation Report: Phase III 13ond Release Eligible Areas <br />