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1 <br />1 <br />' (INTRODUCTION ~ <br /> On July 1~ and god, 1997, the reclaimed Red Canyon Mine was visited and sampled <br />' by Matthew Hayes of Hayes Environmental Services, Inc. The reclaimed vegetation was <br /> examined to determine whether the site would qualify for a Phase III bond release request. <br /> The mine area is located near Cedaredge in Delta County, Colorado within Sections 12 <br />' and 13, T 13 S, R 95 W, 6'" P.M. The Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) requires <br /> that as part of Phase III bond release requests, mine operators demonstrate that for certain <br /> parameters, vegetation present in the reclaimed areas exceeds predetermined standards or <br />' the parameter amount measured in a nearby reference area. As allowed under Rule <br /> 4.15. ] 0(1) for mine sites on previously mined areas, the only vegetative parameter that <br /> applies to the Red Canyon mine is that of ground cover. For vegetative cover, a standard <br />' of 23% perennial, non-noxious cover was agreed upon to apply to the reclaimed <br /> community. As per page 133 of the approved permit application, no production, woody <br /> stem or species diversity success standards apply. The site was seeded in 1988, which <br />' means that 1997 was the ninth year of the bond release period and the first year that <br /> sampling could be undertaken to demonstrate Phase III success. Sampling was carried out <br /> by Matthew Hayes of HES, Inc. and was observed on July 1~' by Mr. Dan Mathews of <br />' DMG. <br /> <br />METHODS: ~ <br />' Sampling methodology followed that described on pages 133a and 134 for the use <br />' of an optical point frame. Total vegetative cover was estimated using an optical point <br />frame developed by ESCO Associates. Sample points were located on a northwest, <br />southeast grid. Point sitings were located along a 25 meter transect stretched out either <br />' NNW, ENE, SSE, or WSW of the sample unit. These four possible directions were <br />chosen so as to minimize the potential for transect overlap. The 50 points per transect <br />(one point at each half meter interval) comprised a single sample unit. Cover was <br />' identified by species, or as rock, litter, or bare ground. For the purposes of estimating <br />total vegetative cover, only first hit data were used. <br />t RESULTS: <br />' Table 1 identifies the twenty-two plant species that were encountered during cover <br />sampling. Table 2 summarizes the absolute cover data collected. The mine site has <br />' received two awards for outstanding reclamation, the most recent awazd received last year <br />because of the quality of the vegetation on the reclaimed areas. It is therefore no surprise <br />that the estimated cover of 42.0% for the perennial, non-noxious vegetation faz exceeds <br />' the 23% success standard. Eighteen transects were sampled. Because a statistical <br />