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Executive Summary Quantitative vegetation sampling was undertaken at the La Plata # 1 Mine during July 2003 by Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology personnel. The purpose of the sampling was to determine if the revegetation of this forfeited site was sufficient to ' warrant release of liability and bond. The mine site disturbance was a combination of pre-law and post-law activity, therefore little topsoil was stockpiled for reclamation use. Additionally, the mine site is a steep rocky south-facing site with low annual ' precipitation. With the failure of the permittee to complete reclamation, the holder of the reclamation surety, Rocky Mountain Bank and Trust, elected to undertake the required ' reclamation. With this historical and environmental perspective, it was concluded, based on quantitative vegetation sampling and on-site observations that the vegetation community established on the mine site complies with the statutory requirement to establish a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetation cover of the same seasonal variety of the affected land and capable of self-regeneration and plant succession at least equal in extent of cover (CRS 34-33-120(2)(s)). Additionally, the site has met the ' requirement of restoring the affected land to a wndition capable of supporting the pre- mining land uses (CRS 34-33-120(2)(b)). 1.0 Introduction This report has been prepared to support the release of liability for the La Plata # 1 Mine, ' Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology permit C-1987-072. The 2003 vegetative sampling was performed by the Division of Minerals and Geology. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Boazd Surface ' Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15 and current botanical and plant ecological methods. The Division of Minerals and Geology's Coal Program employees conducted field sampling from July 7-8, 2003. The La Plata No. 1 Mine is located in La Plata County, Colorado, approximately four and one half miles southwest of Hesperus, Colorado. La Plata Coal Corporation briefly operated the La Plata No. 1 Mine for coal extraction from 1987 to 1988. The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board revoked the mining and reclamation permit in May 1989. The Board forfeited the reclamation bond in July 1989. Subsequent to forfeiture, Rocky Mountain Bank and Trust, the surety holder, petitioned and received permission from the Board and Division to undertake the remaining reclamation operations at the mine. From May 1990 to October 1990, permanent reclamation activities took place at the mine. Completion of backfilling and grading, topsoiling, and revegetation activities in compliance with the approved permit were completed by the bank. 2.0 Methods 2.1 Timing Field sampling was performed on July 7-8, 2003. This time period coincided with maximum vegetative growth potential and development of the majority of plant species La Plata # 1 Mine Page 1 2003 Vegetation Sampling