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July 23, 2002 Seneca Coal Company P.O. Box 670 Hayden, CO 81639 Seneca II-W Mine, Permit No. C-82-057 Complete, oversight inspection July 17 & 18, 2002 Participants: Robert Shevling, Seneca Coal Co. Roy Karo, Seneca Coal Co. Michael Boulay, Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) Henry Austin, Office of Surface Mining (OSM) I participated in a complete, oversight inspection of the Seneca II-W Mine with the above personnel. This inspection also included a special focus evaluation of the protection and enhancement of wildlife and wildlife habitats in accordance with Colorado Rules 2.05.6(2), 4.15, and 4.18. The joint DMG/OSM Oversight Team selected the mine and special focus evaluation topic for review during the 2002 evaluation year, and the wildlife protection /habitat evaluation has a reclamation success focus as described in OSM Directive REG-8. Weather conditions were hot and extremely dry, and soil moisture /vegetation /water supply conditions throughout the mine reflected the drought cycle found in all of Colorado this year. This was my first field inspection of this mine since it began operations. Mr. Boulay began by cleazly describing the purposes of our inspection to Mr. Shelving, and we decided to conduct a permit review of the wildlife habitat, special focus criteria prior to our field work. Mr. Boulay reviewed the applicable permit tabs 11 & 23, and we documented wildlife protection practices and habitat identification found in these permit tabs. Mr. Boulay provided me with copies of recent letters from DMG and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) that discuss wildlife habitat to be disturbed by mining in areas included within permit revision no. 3, which proposes to add mining acreage to the existing permit area. The permit information appears adequate to identify important wildlife habitat, species of concern, operational practices, and monitoring techniques that combined aze intended to protect and enhance wildlife values in and adjacent to the permit area. This includes proposed revegetation practices for the permit revision no. 3 azea, which are currently under review by DMG. It is obvious from the letters noted above that DMG and the permittee have consulted with the DOW concerning wildlife habitat and wildlife protection issues associated with the mining permit area. We discussed the possibility of the permittee conducting wildlife habitat enhancement practices off the permit area, to improve adjacent habitat areas.