PERMFILE43327

• Permit No: C1981012
• IBM Index Class Name: Permit File
• Doc Date: 4/4/2003
• Section_Exhibit Name: Exhibit 36 1992 Reclamation Area Revegetation Success Study
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

1.0 Introducdan
The 1992 reclamation project involved removal of coal waste adjacent to the river to widen the river
channel and reclamation of coal waste piles located adjacent to the river. Slopes on the coal waste
piles were reclaimed to a 4:1 slope or flatter configuration. A one-foot layer of topsoil, obtained
from local buried debris fans, was used to cover the entire azea. The project azea, with exception of
terraces adjacent to the river, was then drill seeded using a 50-50 mixture of a Ponderosa seed-
mixture and a Pinon-Juniper seed mixture. The composition of each seed mixture aze summarized in
Tables 1 and 2. Commercial fertilizers and native grass mulch was then applied to seeded areas.
As part of the Mine Permit, Picketwire established three reference azeas for use in evaluation of
revegetation success. These reference areas included three plant communities considered
representative of several proposed post-mining land uses, including grassland, upland wildlife, and
ripazian wildlife habitat. In 1999, the upland wildlife reference area was deemed unsuitable for
reclamation comparison because of the widespread loss of vegetation (for unknown reasons). On
June 29, 1999, Greystone established a new Upland Wildlife Reference Area (Reference Area) for
the purpose of evaluation of revegetation success at the New Elk Mine. The Reference Area, which
was used as part of this study, is locatedjust north of Colorado State Highway 12 just slightly east of
the Golden Eagle Mine. Data collected as part of the 1999 study were used as part of this study to
evaluate revegetation success of the 1992 reclaimed site.
1.2 OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study is to evaluate the revegetation success of coal waste piles reclaimed in
1992. The results of the monitoring effort will be used to assess whether application of a one-foot
layer of topsoil can produce an adequate level of herbaceous cover, species diversity, productivity,
and shrub density to allow for bond release. The study also evaluates the agronomic properties of
topsoil material used at the reclaimed site and provides recommendations for future reclamation
programs.
1.3 REPORT ORGANIZATION
This report has been divided into four sections as follows:
• Section 1.0 Introduction -describes the purpose for this report as well as its objectives,
scope; and organization.
• Section 2.0 Methodology -Describes the vegetation and soil sampling methodology.
• Section 3.0 Results -Describes the results of the sampling program and compazes those
results with the data collected from the Reference Area in 1999 and 2001. Survey
methodology is discussed in additional detail in the following sections.
• Section 4.0 Conclusions and Recommendations-summarizes the results of the vegetation and
• soil surveys. This section also provides recommendations for future reclamation programs
based on survey results.
Re.~egnaUan.SurveyReport-RPT(626)RevLdoGSeptember 6, 2001 j