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Phase II Bond Release Application---------------- Year 6 <br />NCIG -- Coal Ridge #1 Mine <br />2000 Revegetation Success Evaluation <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />1.1 General <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2000 to implement Phase II <br />vegetation sampling protocols within the revegetated portions of Coal Ridge ~1 mine and reference area <br />in the interest of asoertalning revegetation suooess in general accordance with Rule 3.03, Release of <br />Performance Bonds. Evaluations that ocwrred generally followed procedures indicated within permitting <br />documents with slight mod'rfications in compliance with Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) <br />bond release guidelines (Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues, April 18, 1995). <br />• <br />The 38.4 acre revegetated area was sampled in two separate units, sagebrush /grassland and <br />irrigated hayland, while the reference area was sampled as a single unit, The variable of ground cover <br />was determined from 15 samples located in the redalmed sagebrush /grassland type and from 10 <br />samples in the reference area. The required variable of current annual production was determined from <br />15 samples located in the irrigated hayland azea. In addition to the sampling efforts that occurred, curent <br />conditions notable at the time of sampling were documented through qualitative observations, and by <br />several photos providing a visual demonstration of site conditions. Sampling was conducted orr October <br />2 and 3, 2000 by Cedar Creek's senior Range Ecologist, Mr. Steven R. Viert, and Plant Ecologist, Mr. Erik <br />M. Mohr. <br />1.2 Background and Standards for Success <br />Within the permR boundary, four general land units aze present (undisWrbed sagebrush steppe, <br />revegetated sagebrush /grassland, revegetated irtigated hayland, and unredeemed facilities !roads). Of <br />the 45.2 acres of permitted disturbance, permanent roads occupy 2.4 acres, unredemed fadlities <br />(sediment ponds and topsoil stockpile) account for 4.4 acres, revegetated irrigated haytand occupies 21.0 <br />• aces and revegetated sagebrush /grassland occupies 17.4 acres (see Map 1). The two revegetated <br />areas that are the subject of this evaluation, account for 38.4 acres of reclamation and were reseeded in <br />C~~ C>sa~ Am1D¢.9~'R®, uac. Page 1 NCIG -Coal Rldga M - Phass 11 Bond Relaaa0 Eralwtlon <br />