Laserfiche WebLink
June 12, 2006 <br />p-n^et «(~ <br />~i,„~..~ <br />Kent Gorham JUN 13 2006 <br />Environmental Protection Specialist <br />OMhNn a Mineais ena ceaopy <br />Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology <br />215 Centennial Building <br />1313 Sherman Street <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />RE: Golden Eagle Mine Vegetation Sampling Studyplan for 2006 <br />Mr. Gorham: <br />Basin Resources, Inc. (Basin) is submitting the following vegetation sampling protocol to comply <br />with Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) guidelines pertaining to Phase III bond <br />release applications. Kaiser proposes to conduct vegetation sampling in July of 2006, year ten of the <br />bond liability period, at the Golden Eagle Mine, Permit Number C-81-013. Sampling will be <br />conducted on two reclaimed land areas classified by post-mining land use, and two corresponding <br />reference areas. Vegetative cover, herbaceous production, and species diversity will be evaluated on <br />the Reclaimed Rangeland areas and the Rangeland Reference Area. The Reclaimed Pastureland area <br />and the Alluvial Valley Floor (AVF) Reference Area will be sampled for vegetative cover and <br />herbaceous production. Both rangeland areas will be evaauated for species diversity in accordance <br />with the requirements specified in the mine permit. Vegetative cover and herbaceous production will <br />be sampled in each area in accordance with CDMG's Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamtion Board for Coal Mining, revised September 2005, and specific recommendations received <br />from CDMG staffpertaining to the 2006 sampling event at the Golden Eagle Mine. <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 azeas. Drainage controls were established and there have been no erosion problems on <br />the reclaimed azeas. 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 tamed 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 />