REV14769

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 12/27/2005
• Doc Name: Revegetation Plan Review Memo
• From: DTM
• To: MPB
• Type & Sequence: MT5
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY
Department of Natural Resources
7313 Sherman St., Room 215
Denver, Colorado 80203
Phone: [phone]
FAX: [phone]
DATE: December 23, 2005
TO: Mike Boulay
FROM: Dan Mathews
RE: Mid-term Revegetation P
Western Fuels Colorado,
Permit No. C-81-008
RECEIVED
DEC 2 7 2005
Division of ;Ainerals 8 Geology
Review
w Horizon 1 and 2 Mine
COLORADO
DIVISION OF
MIN &RALS
GEOLOGY
0.EC LAMATION•MWING
SAf ETY•SOENCE
Bill Owens
Governor
Russell George
Executive Director
Ronald W. Cattany
Division Director
Natural Resource Trustee
I have reviewed various materials from the DMG imaging system to conduct the referenced
review. These materials include the Division's March 18, 2003 RN-04 findings document, New
Horizon 1 (NH-1) Revegetation Plan Tab 22, NH-1 Postmine Land Use Map Exhibit 22-3 and
Postmine Vegetation Map Exhibit 22-1, NH-2 Sections 2.04.3 (Land Use), 2.04.9 (Soils
Resource), 2.04.10 (Vegetation Information), and 2.05.4(2)(e) (Revegetation/Postmining Land
Use). Recent discussions with Ross Gubka of WFC, as well as observations I have made during
occasional mine site inspections as recently as summer and fall of 2005, and as far back as the
summer of 1997, have also been considered in my review. My review comments regarding NH-1
revegetation are separated from review comments on NH-2, because it appears that revegetation
plan details for the two areas are (for the most part) addressed in the separate (NH-1 and NH-2)
sections of the permit application.
New Horizon 1 Mine Revegetation Plan
My specific adequacy comments are prefaced with a brief background narrative.
The major reclamation parcel remaining in the NH-1 area is the "Rice Tract" dryland pasture. The
68 acre pasture was seeded in 1991-1992 with NH-1 Seedmix 5. A 58 acre section of the
pasture was subsequently reseeded twice, the second time in 1995. Permit narrative indicates
the area was irrigated during the 1995 and 1996 growing seasons; inspection narrative from June
1997 indicates that approximately 18 to 24" of irrigation water was applied each of the first two
growing seasons. A productive stand of pasture grasses and alfalfa was established initially,
dominated by smooth brome, which was in the approved dryland pasture seedmix at the time of
seeding.
The June 1997 inspection report notes concern with inclusion of smooth brome in the dryland
seedmix, and potential concern with the practice of irrigating dryland pastures at rates
comparable to irrigated pastures for the first two to three growing seasons. Smooth brome was
subsequently removed from the dryland pasture seedmix, but the irrigation practices for dryland
pasture establishment at NH-2 are apparently unchanged.
During an inspection in August 2005, I observed the Rice Tract dryland pasture, and noted that
the stand was dominated by relatively widely spaced clumps of Russian wildrye. Although there
was significant bare ground, no significant erosion was apparent. Year 9 bond release sampling
was initiated at the site shortly after the inspection. During the sampling, it became apparent that
the parcel would not meet applicable success standards, and the sampling effort was terminated.
It is likely that a significant factor in the relatively sparse cover and low diversity of the site is the
drought conditions of recent years, particularly the extremely dry 2002 growing season. The
Office of Office of Colorado
Mined Land Reclamation Active and Inactive Mines Geological Survey