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r " ~.•Pt it <br />I~~ I~~I~~I~~'lll'~~ <br />STATE OF COLOIZ~DO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />DeUartment o(Nalural Resources <br />I ll l Sherman 5t., Room 215 <br />DIVISION O F <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone ao31 ebb-3sb~ MINERAL 5 <br />FAX: 130 31 8 3 2-91 05 ~ & <br />GEOLOGY <br />March 29,2000 RECLAMATION <br />MI NING•SAFEiY <br />Mr. Mike Altavilla BillOwens <br />Seneca Coal Company cOVer"°r <br />BOX 670 Greg E. Walther <br />Executive Director <br />Hayden, CO 81639 ,ti,eh,el e. gong <br />Diviiion Director <br />RE: 1999 Revegetation Monitoring Reports <br />Deaz Mr. Altavilla: <br />I have reviewed the Seneca Coal Company (SCC) Annual Revegetation Monitoring <br />Reports for the Seneca Il Mine, Seneca II-W Mine and the Yoast Mine. These reports <br />were prepared by SCC and ESCO Associates, Inc. I also looked at the Results of Annual <br />Shrub Monitoring prepared by Bitterroot Restoration Incorporated. SCC continues to <br />provide comprehensive, well documented data in their revegetation monitoring reports. <br />The data is helpful and provides DMG with valuable information regazding the status of <br />the reclamation and the various techniques that have been undertaken at the SCC mine <br />sites. After looking at the reports, I have the following comments. <br />Seneca No. II <br />The report says that the reclamation sampling units were the 1992 and 1997 <br />reclamation areas shown on Map 1. Map 1 labels the reclamation units as 1995 <br />and 1997. Please clarify what areas were sampled. <br />2. Map 2 was not included. It is referenced under the two stage sampling for the <br />Wadge Pasture. <br />Using Map 1 alone it is difficult to tell where the samples area are. It would be <br />helpful if topographic lines and additional features, such as roads, ponds, and <br />facilities, were included on the Map. <br />4. I overlaid Map l on Exhibit 13-1 of the permit. Exhibit l3-l shows that trees and <br />shrubs would be planted in the 1997 reclaimed area shown on Map 1. I checked <br />the 1997 Annua] Reclamation Report and did not see that they were planted in <br />that area. Were trees and shrubs planted in that unit? <br />5. In the discussion of woody plant density it is stated that [he woody plant density <br />standard is 2,000 stems/acre. This is incorrect. The woody plant density standard <br />