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r III IIIIII'III III'II STATE OF COLORADO DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY Depanment of Natural Resources 1313 Sherman St., Room 215 Denver, Colorado 80203 Phone: 1303) 866-3567 FAX: (303)8328106 January 31, 2002 Mr. Jim Fulton Office of Surface Mining 1999 Broadway Suite 3320 Denver, Colorado 80202-5733 RE: Year 2002 Silver Anniversary Awards for Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation for Seneca II Mine (Colorado Permit No. C-80-005) Dear Mr. Fulton: ~~ DIVISION OF MINERALS GEOLOGY RECLAMATION MINING•SAFETY Bill Owens Governor Greg E. Walther E><ecurive Director Michael B. Long Division Dveclor Enclosed please find Seneca Coal Company's (BCC's) nomination of the Seneca II Mine for the Yeaz 2002 Silver Anniversary Award -Year 2002 Excellence in Surface Coal Mining Reclamation. SCC is submitting their nomination for this award based upon their reclamation efforts at the Seneca II Mine site over the past ten years. As highlighted in the attached nomination, SCC has produced outstanding results in the following areas: native species revegetation efforts and research, shrub planting, livestock grazing plans, and wildlife enhancements. SCC received the National Coal Mining and Reclamation Award in Year 2000 for their achievment of outstanding reclamation results in accordance with Surface Mining Law. The Colarado Div';sion of *,:inerals a: ~ Geology (DMG) recommends that SCC be considered for t he Silver Anniversary Award. In addition to the highlights presented in the attached nomination brochure, the DMG would like to acknowledge the following additional accomplishments. During the final reclamation period, SCC has implemented innovative methodologies for shrub establishment and should be commended for their overall revegetation efforts. Of particulaz note is the use of genetically site adapted plant materials and mycorrhizal amendments to enhance the success of difficult-to-establish native shrub species. Additionally, for many years SCC has conducted intensive, highly professional revegetation monitoring by which they have objectively documented the effects of various reclamation and land management practices. SCC has used the information provided by the' long term monitoring to improve and fine tune their reclamation program. In 1998, SCC submitted designs for all post-mine drainage channels a[ the Seneca II Mine and was granted approval for their postmining drainage control plan. The DMG honored the Seneca II mine with the Large Surface Mine Reclamation Award in 1999, for the substantial progress made in their overall reclamation program in 1998 and 1999.