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STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MIN[ItALS AND GEOLOGY <br />DeWrtirrenl of Natural Refources <br />1313 Shemren SL, Room 21 S <br />Denver, Colorado 80403 <br />Phone: (303) 8663567 <br />FAX: (303) B32d106 <br />4 August 2006 <br />Mr. Tay Tonozzi <br />Colowyo Coal Mine <br />5731 State Highway 13 <br />Meeker, CO 81641 <br />Re: Colowyo Mine C-1981-O19 <br />2004 Annual Reclamation Report -Vegetation Data Review <br />Dear Mr. Tonozzi: <br />GEOLOGY <br />IIt CLd MNTION.NINIMe <br />fA11T1•iC1i NCf <br />Bill DfYNu <br />Garerrw <br />smfen cfurge <br />rmowc Dimtmr <br />aormd w. ~y <br />oN+fioN anxxor <br />Naynl aCOVrR TNOle <br />The Division has reviewed the vegetation sampling information contained in Section 9 of <br />the 2004 Annual Reclamation Report and has the following questions and comments. <br />1. There is heavy grass dominance and a low potential for achievement of woody <br />plant success standard in older reclaimed areas of the East Pit. There needs to <br />be the establishment of a reasonable woody plant standard for these areas and <br />possible remedial efforts to achieve that end. <br />2. CCC needs to use alternative approaches future reclamation efforts to enhance <br />woody plant establishment and vegetative diversity. These may include <br />varying topsoil depths, reduction of competition from grasses and/or fencing. <br />3. CCC needs to conduct a reassessment of woody plant density and species <br />diversity standard targets for recent and future reclamation, to more closely <br />reflect current reclamation objectives and state of knowledge. <br />4. CCC needs to devise and incorporate a plan for management of annual brome, <br />which has become established in significant densities in some areas, and could <br />significantly impact revegetation efforts. <br />5. CCC will need to assess the retreatment of "failed" shrub establishment areas. <br />Additional treatments within large grass expanses with low shrub densities <br />and few shrub patches will also need to be addressed. In most cases, <br />treatments could involve some combination of herbicide treatment ("Round- <br />up" or comparable broad spectrum herbicide), and mechanical treatments to <br />open up the stand and prepare a seedbed. "Scalping" of the surface soil layer <br />oake er <br />Milled land Reclamation <br />ova d <br />Active and Inactive Mlnet <br />Coorado <br />Geobgrcal Survey <br />