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INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />TO: ROB ZUBER <br />FROM: JANET BINNS <br />SUBJECT: CARBON JUNCTION SL5 REVIEW <br />DATE: SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 <br />CC: [NAME] <br />I have reviewed Carbon Junction's application for Phase III (final) bond release, SL5 for <br />reclamation success of vegetation establishment. <br />The permittee, Oakridge Energy, Inc (OEI) conducted vegetation sampling on the reclaimed <br />mine and ancillary areas, and on the reference area in June 2015 and June 2016. OEI submitted <br />results of the sampling efforts with the SL5 application in June 2016. The application included <br />details regarding vegetative cover data and herbaceous productivity. No woody plant data was <br />collected, nor was it required. Species composition was determined from the vegetative cover data. <br />OEI did not submit maps specific to either sampling event but referred to maps in the <br />permit. While reference to approved maps for the approved disturbance areas to include in the <br />sampling universe is appropriate, this does not illustrate where transect locations occurred. The <br />Division requests OEI submit a map showing the start locations of the cover transects. This allows <br />the Division to see the sample distribution on both the reference area and on the reclaimed area. If a <br />specific transect measured an outlier, unusually high or unusually low results, the Division can <br />correlate the location and ascertain the reason for the variance. <br />OEI reported that random sample distribution was used for location of the cover transects. <br />The reference area cover transects are reported to have been oriented parallel to one another (all the <br />same compass direction) to avoid overlap in this small area. Cover transects in the reclaimed areas <br />were randomly oriented. Production quadrats were randomly oriented at the start points of each <br />cover transect. This methodology is acceptable. <br />OEI reports that sample adequacy was achieved for reference area cover and productivity <br />sampling in 2015 and 2016. Sample adequacy was achieved for reclaimed areas cover and <br />productivity sampling in 2015 and 2016. OEI demonstrated that the reclaimed areas exceeded the <br />reference area cover for 2015 and 2016. Herbaceous productivity on the reclaimed areas exceeded <br />reference area productivity in 2015 and 2016. Species diversity success standards were achieved in <br />2015 and 2016 on the reclaimed areas. <br />Other than requesting that the operator submit a map showing the location of the transect <br />locations for both 2015 and 2016 , I have no other concerns. <br />