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2.0 EVALUATION OF RECLAMATION SUCCESS FOR PHASE <br />III BOND RELEASE <br />The requirements for Phase III bond release aze a 10-yeaz minimum liability period since initial seeding, <br />documentation of revegetation success criteria, proof of post-mining land use capability, and analysis of <br />effects to surface and goundwater quantity and quality (CDMG; Guidelines Regazding Selected Coale <br />Mine Bond- Release Issues, 1995). The year 2005 sampling event initiates the fast of the last 2 years of <br />the 10-yeaz liability period. Sampling to be conducted in 2006 will satisfy completion of the 10-yeaz bond <br />liability period. Achievement of the remaining requisite was documented by surveying the established <br />vegetation for cover, production, and species diversity standards; proving sustainable use of the AVF and <br />Rangeland Reclaimed Areas due to comparison with pre-mining baseline data; and analysis of water <br />quality and quantity data collected from the site over a 20-year period. Each condition and its supporting <br />documentation aze discussed in the following sections. <br />REVEGETATION SUCCESS <br />Alluvial Valley Floor (AVF) Areas - 2005 <br />Vegetation on the AVF Reclaimed Area and AVF Reference Area was randomly sampled on June 20 <br />through June 23, 2005. Vegetative cover and herbaceous biomass production were evaluated. There are <br />no revegetation requirements for species diversity or shrub density specified in the permit. The results of <br />the study aze summarized below. A detailed description of the study and analyses are presented in <br />Appendix A. <br />The approved reclamation success standards for the AVF Reclaimed Area, as specified by the CDMG <br />during permitting for the Golden Eagle Mine, are as follows: <br />Cover -Vegetation cover will be restored on the AVF Reclaimed Area to 90 percent of the cover on the <br />AVF Reference Area. <br />Production -Herbaceous vegetation production will be restored on the AVF Reclaimed Area to 90 <br />percent of the herbaceous production on the AVF Reference Area. <br />Cover values on the AVF Reclaimed Area (39.9 percent) aze detemtirted to exceed the cover values for <br />the AVF Reference Area (36.5 percent), thereby satisfying the success standard specified in the perrnit. <br />Herbaceous vegetation production on the AVF Reclaimed Area (1821.89 lbs/acre) represents 90.28 <br />percent of the production value sampled on the AVF Reference Area (2017.95 lbs/acre), thereby <br />satisfying the success standard specified in the permit. <br />A complete list of the species sampled, including mean absolute cover and relative cover values, is <br />presented on Tables A-4 and A-6. <br />Rangeland Areas - 2005 <br />Vegetation on the Rangeland Reclaimed Areas and Rangeland Reference Area was randomly sampled on <br />June 20 through June 23, 2005. Vegetative cover, species diversity, and herbaceous biomass production <br />were evaluated. There are no revegetation requirements for shrub density specified in the permit. The <br />results of the study aze summarized below. A detailed description of the study and analyses is presented in <br />Appendix A. <br />292 -Golden Eagle Phase III (10.07.05) 2-4 <br />