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• Mountain Co:+I Compam• L.L.C. <br />~~`cst Elk Coal ~1ine <br />Vegetation Assessment <br />Reclamation on the Lone Pine Gulch Fan Facilities' Porh+l Arca and <br />Topsoil Storal;c :1rra <br />I~TRODI'( TIO\ <br />~4ountain Coal Cumpam contracted Circysu?ne fncironntental Consultants. Inc.. to conduct an <br />independent assessment of the initial reclamation activities un the Fan Facilities wtd Portal Arca <br />in Lone Pine Gulch near Somerset, Colorado. The reclaimed parcels are located in the southeast <br />!~~ of Section Ig. T135. R90t1', and may be kxated un the l;SGS l.~ minute yuadrtngle titled <br />Somerset. The reclaimed parcels arc surrounded by Gambol Daft (QuerrtJS);u?ahr/ri) shruhland on <br />a northern c~pusure at an elevation of G,J~O feet. Asxssntcnt parameters include topsoil depth, <br />topsail nutrient analysis, and a qualitative vegetation analysis. <br />Reclnmalion activities on the portal facilities and topsoil storage area in Lonc Pinc Gulch <br />cunnncnccd with contouring and topsoil re-distribution in April of 2002. The reclamation arras <br />were then seeded, fertilized (30-I>-~ NPfi), and mulched the week of May I i through 2J, ?(102. <br />[)roughs conditions in the region through the spring and summer precluded gerntinatian and <br />growth of vegetation on the reclaimed areas until appnroiabl¢ moisture was received in September <br />of 200'_. <br />• ~II•:I'110DS <br />f,~p+nil :malysis was evaluated by randomly <br />locating and sampling four soil pits on the <br />reclaimed parcels; one in the topsoil storage <br />area (TS-I 1 and three in the reclaimed portal <br />area (RLC-I, RFC'-2, and RF.C-3 ). Fi);ure 1 <br />shows the portion of the topsoil storage area <br />where soil-pit TS•I vcas hxaced. The <br />reclaimed portal area and the general <br />location of soil-pits REC-1. RC:C ?, and <br />REC-?, are shown un Figures 2, 3, and d. <br />respectively. At each soil pit Icxation, depth <br />of topsoil was recorded and a wpsoil sample <br />was collected. The four topsoil samples <br />were dfhvered to Colorado Analytical <br />Laboratories, Inc. and tested fur general <br />chemistry. organic content. and available <br />nutrients. <br />Vegetative cover on the reclaimed areas was <br />evaluated by estimating the cover per <br />species and total cover a ithin approximately <br />one square-meter of each topsoil pit. <br />-~~~itlr <br />i ', <br />:. , <br />Y•~,d,~:. . ~:• <br />Pteun~l <br />• <br />