2015-08-11_PERMIT FILE - C1992080 (3)

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This report presents the results of quantitative vegetation sampling of the proposed reference area at Oakridge Energy, Inc.'s (OEI) Carbon Junction Mine conducted in June 2014. The reference area was selected based on consultation between the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety and OEI and their representatives as representative of the plant communities at the former mine site and the vegetation desirable for the post -mining land use. Vegetation cover by plant species, total herbaceous production, and species composition data were collected. This data will form the basis for final revegetation criteria for the Carbon Junction Mine. 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of quantitative vegetation sampling for Phase III bond release for the proposed reference area at the Carbon Junction Mine (CDRMS permit C-92-080) owned, formerly operated, and subsequently reclaimed by OEI. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15 at the time of sampling and current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling for the areas monitored was conducted between June 11 and 13, 2014 by Savage and Savage, Inc. biologists. The Carbon Junction Mine is located in La Plata County, Colorado, approximately two miles southeast of the Durango city limits, midway up Carbon Junction Canyon, on Ewing Mesa. This is approximately one mile east of the Highway 160-550 business route junction, lying one mile east of the Animas River (Figure 1). The Carbon Junction Mine was operated for coal extraction from 1983 to 1985. The proposed reference area sampled this year is located immediately south and east of mining related disturbance, above the former Ewing Mesa #1 mining area and southeast of the former Carbon Junction Mine South Pit. Establishment and acceptance of the proposed reference area will enable collection of revegetation data used to evaluate reclaimed areas for final revegetation success at the mine. Revegetation success will be evaluated by standards and criteria currently in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the Carbon Junction Mining and Reclamation Permit (C-1992-080). 2.0 METHODS 2.1 SAMPLING DESIGN Prior to initiation of fieldwork, the permit document and applicable maps were reviewed to evaluate topography, plant communities, soils, and management. An aerial photograph of the proposed reference area from Google Earth® was used to identify, locate and delineate the area of interest. The proposed reference area comprises . . . \"N"IN "- " \ice/' / " "�"./. , , i \"✓ i \_ ." i\ ^� , "`l', i\.'\ \ N1111 Oakridge Energy, Inc. Carbon Junction Mine Page 1 2014 Proposed Dryland Reference Area Report