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~'"~' "--""~ Environrraental Consultants, lnc. <br />Kent Gorham 1pp5 <br />Environmental Protection Specialist Mp`{ 06 <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology ~~,ao°°"'y <br />215 Centennial Building ~~,dM`"0`e~s <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />RE: Golden Eagle Mine Vegetation Sampling Studyplan for 2005 <br />Dear Mr. Gorham: <br />Basin Resources, Inc. (Basin) 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 June of 2005, year nine of the bond liability period, at the Golden Eagle <br />Mine, Permit Number C-81-013. Sampling will be conducted on two reclaimed land areas classified <br />by post-mining land use, and two corresponding reference areas. Vegetative cover, herbaceous <br />production, and species diversity will be evaluated on the Reclaimed Rangeland areas and the <br />Rangeland Reference Area. The Reclaimed Pastureland areas and the Alluvial Valley Floor (AVF) <br />Reference Area will be sampled for vegetative cover and herbaceous production. Each area will be <br />sampled in accordance with the requirements specified in the mine permit. <br />The Golden Eagle Mine is a surface coal mine located in Las Animas County off State Highway 12, <br />approximately 24 miles west of Trinidad, Colorado. The mine is in Sections 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, <br />21, 22, 27, 28, 29, 30, and adjoining areas to the south in Township 33 South, Range 67 West, with a <br />permit area of 5,674 acres. <br />Coal extraction was terminated on December 31, 1995 with the existing stockpiles of coal removed <br />from the site the following month. All on-site industrial equipment and structures were dismantled <br />and removed by November 1996. <br />Reclamation of the disturbed mine site was completed in two phases. The first phase involved <br />backfilling, recontouring, redistributing topsoil, seeding and mulching of sediment pond 005, the pit, <br />and structure areas. Drainage controls were established and there have been no erosion problems on <br />the reclaimed areas. This phase of reclamation was completed during May 1997. <br />The second phase of reclamation involved removal and reclamation of sediment ponds 003 and 004, <br />and reclamation of the diversion ditches which carried surface water to the ponds. Activities included <br />backfilling, recontouring, redistributing topsoil, seeding and mulching. This phase ofthe reclamation <br />was completed in late 1998. <br />Basin was eligible for Phase I bond release upon completion of mine related reclamation activities. <br />Basin filed an application with the CDMG for Phase I bond release on September 2, 1997. Release of <br />was eranted on December 11. 1997. This release reduced the remainine bond amount to <br />5231 South Quebec Street • Greenwood Village, Colorado 801 L I <br />Phone (303) 850-0930 • Fax (303) 721-9298 <br />Web Site: www.greystone.us <br />