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SUMMARY <br />• Monitoring of the 1985, 1986, and 1987 Reclamation Areas and the Osgood Sand <br />Reference Area in 1996 showed that the 1986 and 1987 reclaimed areas met the <br />revegetation success standard for vegetation cover. A review of total vegetation cover <br />data for the 1985 Reclamation Area for the 1994-1996 period showed that the total <br />cover revegetation success criterion was met for\two of the three years. A review of <br />species composition data showing a developmental trend in the 1985 Reclamation Area <br />provides a plausible explanation for the lower 1996 vegetation cover. <br />An evaluation of species composition through relative cover revealed that the 1985 <br />Reclamation Area met all of the requirements of the species composition success <br />standard. The 1986 and 1987 Reclamation Areas did not meet all of the criteria, <br />lacking perennial species and/or numbers of warm season grasses. Interestingly, the <br />Osgood Sand Reference Area was not able to meet the species composition success <br />standazd requirements for any of the sampled years (1994-1996). <br />Based on quantitative sampling at the 1985, 1986, and 1987 Reclamation Areas of the <br />Keenesburg Mine, these areas qualify for Phase II bond release under the reguirements. _. <br />established by Rules_3.03 and 4.15.8 and the terms and requirements of the mining .and <br />reclamation permit. The quantitative vegetative cover data indicates that the operator <br />has esta ~s ed a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative cover of the same <br />• seasonal variety as the original vegetation. The revegetated azea is capable of self- <br />regeneration and plant succession. The data shows development of a stable, self- <br />sustaining vegetation community, with seasonality and diversity sufficient to <br />demonstrate successful reestablishment of vegetation on the 1985, 1986, and 1987 ~ <br />Reclamation Areas for the purposes of Phase Il bond release. ~,~. ~ a-~~ k, ~~ ~s 90190 <br /> <br />-15- <br />