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Introduction ,s:.::,,~ ::...:..::::... ~.....:,>,:..,..~:.:....~,,:.~.~.~~u......~:..... ..., i • Western Fuels-Utah, Inc. (WFU) operates the Deserado Coal Mine under a permit (Permit No. I C-81-018) issued by the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG). Location of the mine is approximately eight miles east of Rangely, Colorado off State Highway 64. The Deserado Mine is an underground coal mine using the longwall method of coal extraction. Continuous miners are also used to develop mains and gate roads. The run-of--mine coal is crushed and washed in the on-site prepazation plant. Washed coal is shipped to the Bonanza Power Generating Station by rail. The refuse remaining afrer the coal washing process is shipped by haul trucks to refuse disposal azeas. There aze three refuse disposal azeas, RP-1, RP-213, and RP-4. The refuse disposal area RP-1 is full and was reclaimed in the summer of 1990. According to the permit, refuse disposal azeas must be reclaimed with a minimum topsoil and subsoil cover of four feet. WFU estimates that available subsoil and topsoil quantities aze inadequate to meet the four-foot cover requirement for other planned refuse disposal azeas other than RP-l. Consequently, WFU needs a DMG variance from the four-foot cover criterion. To obtain this variance, a demonstration of revegetation success using less than four feet of cover must be provided. The objective of this study is to investigate whether successful revegetation can be achieved with a topsoilJsubsoil cover thickness of less than four feet. If the study shows that a lower topsoil/subsoil cover thickness can achieve successful revegetation, then WFU will apply to DMG • for a variance from the four feet cover requirement. The vaziance will establish the cover depth shown to be adequate by [he study as the revegetation success standard. WFU coordinated with DMG and has agreed upon a study plan that will provide the demonstra- tion of revegetation success with less than four feet of cover. Objectives of the study aze: • Using the reference plot, define revegetation success criteria for vegetative cover. production, species diversity, and woody plant density for statistical evaluation of test plot revegetation success; • Assess the revegetation success of the test plots with northern and southern exposures and 12- inch, 24-inch, 36-inch, and 48-inch topsoil/subsoil cover thicknesses over a four growing season period; and • Determine the minimum cover thickness with which successful revegetation of the refuse disposal azeas can be achieved. The objectives of this report aze to: 1) present the results of the 199 vegetation and 1996 soil sampling conducted on the test plots; 2) compaze those results with the vegetation and soil data collected in previous years; 3) use the results of the sampling to determine the minimum soil cover thickness; and 4) establish success criteria for vegetative cover, production, species diversity, and woody plant density. These criteria will be consistent with DIvIG regulation 4.15.8. • '_J6-U'_'1'rey-rPri