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I. Introduction <br />This report has been prepared in support of an application for release of liability for the <br />35-acre mined area west of Rouse Road within the permit area of the New Pryor Strip <br />Mine (Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology permit C-1981-031) operated by <br />American Fuels, Inc. On February 26, 1986 the Mined Land Reclamation Board <br />forfeited a $58, 073.00 reclamation bond. DMG hired a third party contractor to oversee <br />reclamation at the site during 1991. Reclamation was completed in 1992 on all azeas, <br />except for the sediment ponds. This document describes the former vegetative condition <br />of this area, and provides data collected during the summer of 2002. The 2002 vegetative <br />sampling was required and performed by the Division of Minerals and Geology to release <br />liability by ascertaining that the reclaimed mine area's vegetation has been successfully <br />re-established and reclaimed. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Surface Coal Mining Rules 2,04.10 and 4.15 <br />and current botanical and ~lant ecological methods. Field sampling was conducted <br />during the week of July 29 by the Division of Minerals and Geology's Coal Program <br />employees. <br />The New Pryor Strip Mine is located in Huerfano County, Colorado, approximately ten <br />miles southwest of Walsenburg, Colorado. Baseline vegetation data were collected in <br />1981 and reference azeas of approximately three acres were established for the two <br />vegetation communities: grassland and pinon juniper. Past revegetation standards were <br />based on weighted averages between those grassland and pinon juniper reference azeas. <br />Those data are still available; however, the reference areas cannot be located now. <br />Therefore, current success standards have been revised to a technical standard. The <br />revegetation standards used to evaluate these azeas are those currently in effect under the <br />Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 33-34-101 et seq}, and are those <br />addressed in section 4.15.10, due to the substantial history of mining disturbance at this <br />area dating back to 1905. <br />II. Methods <br />Timing <br />Field sampling was performed from July 29s' through August 2"d, 2002. This time period <br />coincided with maximum vegetative growth potential and development of the majority of <br />plant species found in both the native vegetation community and the reclaimed area to be <br />evaluated. Vegetation sampling locations, dates, and methods were determined, <br />approved, and performed by the Division of Minerals and Geology prior to fieldwork. <br />Sampling Design <br />Before fieldwork commenced, the permit document, amendments to the permit, baseline <br />data, any prior sampling data, applicable maps, and aerial photographs were reviewed to <br />evaluate topography, reclamation timing, seed mixes, revegetation methods, and <br />applicable revegetation standards. <br />2 <br />