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• INTRODUCTION <br />Beginning in 2005, sampling of vegetation conditions as part of~tna! bond release testing on reclaimed lands will be <br />undertaken at the Seneca 77 Mine in Routt Cvunty, Colorado. The procedures proposed are set forth below. Passage <br />of the federal Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 ertabluhed a general reparation between ~re-law" <br />and `port-law"reclaimed lands. But beyond thatgeneral reparation, and in the context of Colorado mining laver, there <br />are a few other categories of reclamation based an the date of reclamation. <br />Among the lands included in this evaluation (ar shown on Map 1 Bond Release BJockr and Pastel Locations), there <br />are come parz'elr that were mined and reclaimed in 1972 and early 1973 that would be subfect to provisions of the <br />Colorado Open Cut Land Reclamation Act of 1969. On there lands, reclamation war to be `earned to completion <br />with aU reasonable diligence. " Evaluation of there areas is proposed in the form of a qualitative description with very <br />limited quantitative vegetation sampling. <br />Lands mined and reclaimed between July 1, 1973 and February 24, 1976, near the north end of the permit area, are <br />subject to provirionr of the Colorado Open Cut Mining Ilrnd Reclamation Act of 1973 (effective Jx1y 1, 1973). <br />Provisions of thin act included grading to `Yhe greaten extent passible, restore slopes to their original rondition. " No <br />slopes too steep to allow traverse by livestock wen allowed without Board approval Revegetation prwlrions were <br />similar to the 1969 Act. Vegetation evaluation of these areas it proposed in the form of a qualitative description with <br />very limited quantitative vegetation samping. <br />With the issuance of Board Ruler effective February 25, 1976, revegetation war required to `ertabhrh a diverse, <br />effective and permanent vegetative cover native to the area of land that war affected" and `capable of self-regeneration <br />and plant succession without dependence on irrigation, roil amendments, or fertiliser"and `at kart equal in extent of <br />cover to the natural vegetation of the aria prior to mining': Introduced spener could be tired when regarded as <br />• temporary help toward native , pecier ertablirhment. Lands reclaimed between Febrnary 25, 1976 and May 3, 1978 <br />fall under ruler promulgated under the 1973 Colorado Ad and those promulgated under the Colorado Mined land <br />Reclamation Act of 1976 (effective May, 1977). Revegetatron requirements wen similar to those of the ruler under the <br />1973 Act. For there areas, the requirement that the vegetation be not only `capable ojrelf-regeneration"but afro `at <br />least equal in extent of rover to the natural vegetation of the .surrounding aria" necessitates quantitative vegetation <br />sampling. Although the ruler did not formally require vegetation reference areas, it it proposed that data from the <br />Seneca II -Sagebrush and Mountain Bnrrh/Aspen reference areas be tired to provide information to frame the <br />qualitative discussion of the comparative cover (and production) data. <br />Lands reclaimed between May 3, 1978 and Sept 22, 1981 are to be treated under provisions of the interim program, <br />evaluating cover, productivity, and .pecier diversity on the barir of "rerulu which could naronably be expected using <br />methods of revegetation required under the initial program performance standards and the requirements of their <br />approved permit at the time. " <br />lands mined and reclaimed on or after Sept 23, 1981 ate subject to the permanent program <br />requirements. It is anticipated that final bond release for lands within the Seneca II permi[ <br />area will be requested under two or mote appGcadons to be submitted over a period of 10 or <br />more years. The initial app/icadan will include lands reclaimed prior ro issuance of the <br />petmanentpmgramsequirements (September23,1981), as well as /ands reclaimed on or aher <br />that date. 7Tie most recently mclamted lands to be included m the initial Phase III bond <br />release application were last seeded m 1995. <br />Bond Release Blocks <br />• It i.r proposed that reclaimed lands addressed in this evaluation of revegetation success be divided into Eve Bond Release <br />Blocks (BRB °r). BRB's 1, 2, and 3 will be included m the initial bond rclease appdeation, while <br />BRB's 4 and 5 will be included m subsequent bond release applications. The hcationr and <br />ESCOAssociates 13-13-1 TR40 * 03/06 <br />