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• INTRODUCTION <br />ESCO Associates, Inc. (ESCO) was contracted by Sage Creek Coal Company in the spring of <br />2008 to conduct baseline vegetation studies for the planned Sage Creek Mine in Routt County in <br />northwest Colorado. This project area is located southeast of the town of Hayden on the western <br />edge of the existing Seneca 11 Mine permit area with additional study areas south of the Seneca II <br />Mine in Twentymile Park and west of the existing Seneca II permit area and east of the Yoast <br />Mine haul road. This baseline study addresses regulatory requirements of the Colorado Division <br />of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) and supports a permit application for the Sage <br />Creek Mine. Observations reported here are based on long -term familiarity with the general area <br />from previous baseline and monitoring undertakings on the Seneca II, Seneca IN and Yoast <br />mines. Quantitative field studies were initiated on July 21, 2008 and concluded on August 1, <br />2008. <br />The baseline studies were conducted at two levels of effort based on projected degree of affect <br />on lands within the study area. Within the area where the most extensive and intensive surface <br />disturbance activities associated with mining may occur, quantitative studies were conducted in <br />the major (most extensive) vegetation types. This quantitatively sampled area is located in the <br />• southern portion of the larger baseline study area (see Figure 1 below). For vegetation types of <br />minor extent within areas of potential surface disturbance and for all other vegetation in within the <br />study area including areas potentially affected by subsidence, qualitative descriptions were <br />developed. These qualitative evaluations included reconnaissance and mapping efforts. The <br />relationship of these areas within the broader study area is illustrated in Figure 1. <br />• <br />