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1 <br />t. INTRODUCTION <br /> On June 24, 1998, the reclaimed Red Canyon Mine was visited and sampled by <br />' Matthew Hayes of Hayes Environmental Services, Inc. The reclaimed vegetation was <br /> examined to deterntine whether the site would qualify for a Phase III bond release request. <br /> The mine area is located near Cedazedge in Delta County, Colorado within Sections 12 <br />' and 13, T13 S, R 95 W, 6's 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 azea. As allowed under Rule <br /> 4.15.10(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 1998 was the tenth year of the bond release period. Cover data was collected <br /> last year; thus, 1998 was the second consecutive year that sampling had been undertaken <br /> as part of a demonstration of Phase III success. Sampling was carried out by Matthew <br />' Hayes of HES, Inc. (assisted by Stuart F. Hayes). <br />~^ <br />~J <br />METHODS: ~ <br />Sampling methodology was the same as last year and followed what is described <br />t on pages 133a and 134 for the use of an optical point frame. Total vegetative cover was <br />estimated using an optical point frame developed by ESCO Associates. Sample points <br />were located on a northwest, southeast grid. Point sitings were located along a 25 meter <br />' transect stretched out either NNW, ENE, SSE, or WSW of the sample unit. These four <br />possible directions were chosen so as to eliminate the potential for transect overlap. The <br />50 points per transect (one point at each half meter interval) comprised a single sample <br />' unit. Cover was identified by species, or as rock, litter, or bare ground. For the purposes <br />of estimating total vegetative cover, only first hit data were used. <br />RESULTS: <br />' Twenty transacts were sampled this yeaz, and the cover data for each is listed on <br />Table 1. Absolute non-noxious, perennial vegetative cover was estimated at 40.6% (see <br />Table 2), much higher than the 23% standard. Because a statistical evaluation was not <br />required to demonstrate success, sample adequacy was determined using the methods <br />outlined on page 21 of DMG's Guideline Regazding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release <br />1 <br />