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INTRODUCTION <br />1• <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed areas at Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) Yoast Mine was <br />undertaken in July 2006 by ESCO Associates to facilitate SCC's continued monitoring of the <br />progress of these areas in relation to revegetation pertormance standards. Methods, sample <br />areas, and sample sizes were those specified by SCC. <br />METHODS <br />Reclamation Units and Sampling Locations <br />The reclamation units sampled for purposes of interim monitoring at the Yoast Mine in 2006 are <br />shown on Map 1, "2006 Interim Monitoring Locations". Both areas seeded in 2002 and 2004 <br />reclamation areas were sampled in 2006 as part of interim monitoring. In addition, separate <br />sampling of all areas reclaimed prior to 2005 for purposes of collecting information to be used in <br />assessment of satisfaction of Phase II bond release criteria was conducted at locations shown on <br />Map 3, "2006 Phase II Bond Release Sampling Area". <br />Extended Reference Area Sampling <br />The Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush/Snowberry, Steep Mountain Brush, and Western <br />Wheatgrass/Alkali Sagebrush Extended Reference Areas were sampled to provide data for <br />comparison with reclaimed area data. Reference Area sampling locations are shown on Map 2, <br />"2006 Extended Reference Area Monitoring Sample Locations". <br />Cover Sampling <br />Cover data were collected along 50 m transects in both reclaimed and reference areas using a <br />point-intercept method in which data were recorded as interceptions of a point with plant species, <br />litter, standing dead plant material, soil, or rock. Plant material produced during 2006 and still <br />standing was tallied by species. Litter was considered to be any organic material that had fallen, <br />or had begun to fall to the soil surtace.. Standing dead was any dead plant material that was <br />produced in previous years but which was still standing and had not lodged or broken off to <br />become litter. Inorganic materials greater than 1 cm in diameter were considered rock. The <br />cover sampling points were optically projected using aCover-Point Optical Point Projection <br />Device developed by ESCO Associates. The 50 m transects were randomly located and oriented <br />in the reclaimed and reference areas. One hundred points were collected at each transect and <br />distributed evenly along the transect. A pair of points were collected at each meter mark with <br />points sampled on opposite sides of the transect 0.5 m from the transect. <br />1 <br />