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March 1, 2002 <br />Harry Ranney <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />Denver, CO <br />Dear Mr. Ranney: <br />RECi:iVi=~ <br />MAR 0.4 2001002 <br />Division of Minerals and Geology <br />„_„ _,_;, andGeolagy <br />Kaiser Ventures, Inc. (Kaiser) is submitting the following vegetation sampling protocol to comply <br />with CDMG guidelines pertaining to Phase IiI bond release applications. Kaiser proposes to conduct <br />vegetation sampling in July of 2002, year ten of the bond liabilityperiod, at the Chimney Rock Mine, <br />Permit Number C-81-023. Sampling will be conducted on three reclaimed land units, the AVF, <br />Barren Ridge/Revision 1, and the East Pit. Sampling will also be conducted on the AVF and <br />Dryland Reference Areas. Vegetative cover, herbaceous production, and species diversity will be <br />evaluated on all sampled areas in accordance with the requirements specified in the mine permit. <br />The Chimney Rock Mine is a relatively small surface coal mine located in Archuleta County off <br />State Highway 151, approximately 17 miles southwest ofPagosa Springs, Colorado. The mine is in <br />Sections 29 and 30, Township 34 North, Range 4 West, with a permit area of 187.5 acres. <br />Methods to measure vegetative ground cover, herbaceous production, and species diversity are <br />discussed in the following sections, and are approved in the Permit Document. <br />Random Sample Locations <br />Vegetative cover and herbaceous production will be sampled on each reclaimed area and the Dryland <br />Reference Area using 50-meter point-intercept transects that are randomly located and oriented. <br />Sampling in the AVF Reference Area will use 25-meterpoint-intercept transects due to the limited <br />size of the area. Sample locations for the point-intercept transects were generated using a grid <br />system overlain on maps of the reference and reclaimed areas. Random numbers were generated <br />utilizing the Microsoft Excel 2000 Version 9.0.2720 random number generator. The resultant <br />random numbers table determined the coordinates for transect origin and compass bearing. Sample <br />locations will be determined in the field by pacing from recognizable landmarks. <br />