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• • Monitoring <br />ESCO Assodates, Inc conducted revegetation monitoring of permanently xevegetated azeas and shrub <br />establishment monitoring in the shrub plot areas during the summer of 2004. The 2004 Annual <br />Revegetation Monitoring report is submitted as a separate doautrent (ESCO and SCC, 2005). <br />Weed Control <br />Survey fox noxious weeds was carried out on the II-W Mine permit azea in 2004. Monitoring was <br />conducted in 2004 to determine the need or level of retreatment necessary fox areas sprayed in 2003. <br />Canada thistle was the primary tazget species in all control azeas, with lesser activity directed towards <br />azeas of hounds tongue and whitetop. The applied herbicide consisted of a tank mix of 2.5 gallons of <br />22K Tordon and 2.5 gallons of 2,4,D with 250 gallons of water. Escort at the rate of one (1) oz. per <br />acre was spot sprayed on the whitetop. Control azeas were sprayed in May and June. A spot spray gun <br />was used to concentrate control activities on target areas, reducing potential impacts to adjacent <br />desirable vegetation. The herbicide mix, based on recommendations from the Colorado State <br />Extension Service, was mixed and applied by the Seneca Mine Reclamation Manager who is a certified <br />applicator The weed control azeas will continue to be monitored in 2005 for effectiveness and <br />necessary retteatment. See attached weed control daily logs fox more detailed description of the 2004 <br />herbicide application. <br />SEDIMENTATION POND SURVEYS <br />• SCC is required by Permit C-82-057 to monitor sedimentation ponds for sediment storage capacities. <br />This schedule provides a sediment yield history and gtves advance warning to operations personnel <br />when sediment clean-out work is required. In accordance with Rule 4.05.6(I1)(c), SCC visually <br />inspects each pond a minimum of quazterly each year. During these inspections, any drastic change in <br />sedimentation storage or sudden increase in a sediment delta at the inlet to the pond could be detected <br />which would require mitigation. The results of the 2004 annual survey indicated that Pond 005 <br />capaaty calculation was based on the water level in the pond at the tune of the survey instead of the <br />elevation of the principal spillway. The status of this pond will be re-evaluated in 2005. Pond 006 was <br />surveyed before the cleanout operations were completed, again this pond will be xe-evaluated in 2005. <br />Based on the 2004 survey, all sediment ponds have suffident sediment storage. Additionally, all ponds <br />have been discharging in compliance with the approved NPDES permit effluent limitations. Yeazly <br />sediment delivery estimates to the ponds aze considerably less than originally calculated, since the azeas <br />in these watersheds have now been teclairned and revegehated. <br />The results of the annual survey aze shown on Table 04.4, Sediment Pond Capacities <br />STOCK TANS <br />There was one (1) stock tank T-5 constructed in the "A" Pit azea in 2004. The As-built drawing is <br />found in Tab 13, Exhibit 13-27.T5. <br />WILDLIFE MONITORING <br />Seneca Coal Company contracted Thunderbird Wildlife Consulting, Inc. to conduct wildlife <br />monitoring at the Seneca II mine. The work included: <br />1. Winter aerial survey For big game <br />2. Monitoring three (3) known Columbian sharp-tailed grouse leks <br />3. Checking golden eagle nests <br />Revised I1/OS <br />