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Quantitative sampling of reclaimed areas at Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) Seneca II Mine was <br />undertaken in July and August 2006 by ESCO Associates to facilitate SCC's continuing <br />monitoring of the progress of these areas in relation to revegetation performance standards. <br />2006 data collection was pursued toward the end of providing datasets adequate to allow formal <br />testing of Revegetation Success and for use in eventual application for Phase 2 (II) and Phase 3 <br />(III) Bond Release. Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those specified in a study <br />plan submitted by SCC to Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (ESCO 2005b). <br />METHODS <br />Phase 111 Bond Release Blocks <br />For purposes of this sampling Seneca II Mine reclaimed areas planted by or before December 31, <br />1996 have been divided into two Bond Release Blocks (BBB's): <br />BRB -2. <br />This block includes land reclaimed between February 25, 1976 and September 21, 1981. These <br />areas were subject to provisions of what may be termed "Interim" rules preceding the formal start <br />of provisions of the Colorado Permanent Program. <br />BRB -3. <br />This block includes land reclaimed between September 22, 1981 and December 31, 1996. <br />These areas were subject to provisions of the Colorado Permanent Program and are old enough <br />to be in at least year 9 as of 2005. <br />Both BRB-2 and BRB-3 were sampled in 2005 also along with lands mined prior to February 25, <br />1976 that may be termed "pre-law" lands. The results were reported in the 2006 annual report <br />and in ESCO (2006). <br />Phase 2 (ll) Area Sampling (BRB-4rev) <br />Part of Seneca II reclaimed lands seeded on or after January 1, 1997 that were formerly included <br />as part of "BRB-4" were sampled for cover to provide information that would be of use were an <br />application for Phase 2 (II) bond release for those lands. The lands included in this sampling <br />were henceforth refered to as "BRB-4rev". Sample points in this area are shown on Map 4. <br />I <br />1 <br />