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yi_F; c~lnl fNdl1''1J~lI`~I~V11r~;falW • III IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII 2? ~ I. .. , April 30, 1982 Mr. Bob Liddle Mined Land Reclamation Division 1313 Sherman Street Denver, Colorado 80203 Dear Bob: SNOWMASS COAL COMPANY Mine Orlice. P.O. Box 980 Carbontlale, Colorado 87623 13031 9633440 Denver Olhce: Suite 2300 410 Seve nteentn Street Denver, Colorado 90202 13031 825-t966 We have received your letter of April 19, 1982 and the accompanying memo from Mike Savage dated March 12, 1982. In the interest of overall expediency, Snowmass Coal will accede to all of Mike Savage's recommendations for changes in the revegetation plan. The final permit documents which are being produced by Gibbs & Hi11 will incorporate all of those recommendations. We would like to offer a brief discussion of the points raised in the Savage memo. First, the reason no information has been presented indi- cating the relative success of the proposed seed mixtures, is because the seed mixtures. were tried on the site for the first time in 1981. It is too early to tell how well they will work. Information has been presented to the Division showing shrub species, planting areas, and survival rates for the mine site. This information is presented in the revegetation sec- tion of the permit application. As far as herbaceous species are concerned, about the only thing that can be said is that crested wheatgrass has to date, shov+n the most promise at the mine site. It should be noted that herbaceous seed mextures which have been tried at the mine site to date, are not the same seed mixtures proposed in the interim or permanent program permit applications. In the opinion of Snowmass Coal, the Division's policy of not approving yellow sweetclover for any reclamation application is unjustified. In the case of our reclamation work, this is one species which is particularly suited for the steep, harsh, south-facing Mancos shale slopes. Ve7~v few species can be counted on to establish itself as reliably as yello.+ sweet- clover on such slopes. The prevailing consensus of experience with this species in Colorado is that it is not a long-lived species and r:ould not be expected to be a permanent component of the vegetative cover. fleverthe- less, it is very effective for early establishment and stabilization. Snowmass Coal believes the Division is wrong in not allowing trs to use it to revegetate steep road cuts and other harsh areas.