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Introduction <br />At the request of Trapper Mining Inc. (Trapper), Phase III final bond release revegetation <br />sampling was conducted on three reclaimed blocks and one reference area at the Trapper Mine. <br />The three reclaimed blocks sampled included one Cropland Reclamation Block and two <br />Rangeland Reclamation Blocks. The Cropland Reference Area was also sampled. <br />The Cropland Reclamation Block CR - 93-94 Area ,reclaimed between 1993 and 1994 <br />containing 185.5 acres; and the Cropland Reference Area which is located outside of the mine <br />disturbance area and which contains 43.7 acres were sampled. The two Rangeland Reclamation <br />Blocks sampled included Reclamation Block AD&H-AB, which was reclaimed between 1993 <br />and 1995, containing 478.9 acres; and Reclamation Block AC&D-C, which was reclaimed <br />between 1987 and 1995, containing 98.4 acres. The locations of theses specific reclamation <br />blocks are depicted on the enclosed maps. This revegetation monitoring effort was prepared <br />with the intention of satisfying the second yeaz of the final two years of the Phase III monitoring <br />requirement of the Final Bond Release revegetation sampling requirements for Rangeland <br />Reclamation Blocks AD&H-AB; AC&DC; and Cropland Reclamation Block CR - 93-94. <br />Mr. Kent Crofts of IIvIE, who has conducted previous vegetation sampling efforts at the Trapper <br />Mine, adjacent Empire Energy Mine and numerous other sites in northwest Colorado in the past <br />28 years, directly supervised all field investigations. Assisting in this sampling effort was Mt. <br />Aazon Hailing, who acted as the field party chief and field GPS technician and was responsible <br />for determining all of the transect locations using the Trimble Model Pro XRS Global <br />Positioning System. Both individuals performed all of the field sampling and data analysis. <br />Methods <br />Maps, in both electronic and hazd paper format of the Cropland Reclamation Block, the <br />Cropland Reference Area and the two Rangeland blocks sampled in this revegetation monitoring <br />effort were supplied by Mr. Forrest Luke, Environmental Manager of Trapper Mining Inc., who <br />delineated to the field crews, the exact extent of the reclamation efforts at the Trapper Mine. The <br />specific sampling methodologies used in this evaluation are those found in the Division's <br />"Guidelines with Land Use and Vegetation Requirements ojthe Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamation Board jor Coal Mining" issued in June of 1988 and the "Guidelines Regarding <br />Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues" issued April 18, 1995. In addition to these guidelines, <br />the new proposed regulation changes as found in the 14 March 2003 Colorado Division of <br />Minerals and Geology (DMG) "Revegetation, Land Use, R'ddlije and Alluvial Talley Floors" - <br />Proposed Colorado Program Amendments document was used with respect to sample adequacy <br />calculations and proposed statistical comparisons. <br />Frior to commencing the field sampling and during the preparation of this report, the Permit <br />monitoring requirements were examined and discussed with Mr. Luke regarding the proposed <br />sampling methods and data analysis methods to be used. Agreement on the sampling <br />• methodology used in this evaluation as well as permission to use the proposed program <br />