2021-01-05_REVISION - C1981022 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1981022
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 1/5/2021
• Doc Name Note: Application Cover Letter & Revised Pages
• Doc Name: Proposed Revision Materials
• From: Oxbow Mining, LLC
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: SL5
• Email Name: LDS
• Email Name: JDM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

1.0 INTRODUCTION
This report presents the results of the 2020 quantitative vegetation sampling in support of a
request for Phase III bond release for eligible reclaimed areas within the OMLLC Elk Creek
Mine (CDRMS permit C-1981-022) owned by OMLLC. Quantitative vegetative sampling is
required by CDRMS whenever a permittee requests a release from liability and/or reclamation
bond in Phase III of the final bond release process. Vegetation sampling was performed in
compliance with the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal
Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15.10 at the time of sampling, the requirements of Exhibit 2.05-
E6 of the approved reclamation plan, and current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field
sampling for the areas monitored was conducted between June 15 and 28, 2020 by Savage and
Savage, Inc. biologists.
The Elk Creek Mine site is located in Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado, east and west
of Somerset, Colorado and north of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and Colorado
Highway 133. The underground coal mine began operation in 1901 and entered final
reclamation in 2014. The reclaimed areas sampled in this report are located in Delta County
and Gunnison County, Colorado; within the permit area which includes portions of Sections
27-34, T12S, R90 W, 6th PM, parts of Sections 25-27 and 34-36, T12S, R91W, parts of
Sections 6 and 7, T13S, R89W, parts of Sections 1-12 and 17, T13S, R90W, and parts of
Sections 1-3 and 11-13, T3S, R91 W, all of the 6th Prime Meridian.
Reclaimed areas sampled in 2020 were backfilled, graded, erosion control material installed,
best available plant growth medium respread, mulched, and revegetated in accordance with the
approved mining and reclamation plan. The reclaimed areas sampled this year were formerly
mine surface facilities and access roads.
The revegetation standards used to evaluate these areas are those currently in effect under the
Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the Elk Creek
Mining and Reclamation Permit (C-1981-022), found in Exhibit 2.05-E6.
Oxbow Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 2
2020 Phase III Bond Kelease Pre-5MCKA Vegetation Report