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~' <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed areas at Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) <br />Yoast Mine was undertaken in July 2005 by ESCO Associates to facilitate SCC's <br />continued monitoring of the progress of these areas in relation to revegetation <br />performance standards. Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those <br />specified by SCC. <br />Reclamation Units and Sampling Locations <br />The reclamation units sampled at the Yoast Mine in 2005 are shown on Map 1, <br />• "2005 Reclaimed Area Monitoring Locations". 2001 and 2003 reclamation was <br />sampled in 2005. <br />Extended Reference Area Sampling <br />For purposes of having a reference point for reclamation, data were collected at <br />the Yoast Mine, as well as the Aspen, Mountain Brush, and Sagebrush Extended <br />Reference Areas at the nearby Seneca IIW Mine. Reference Area sampling <br />locations are shown on Map 2, "2005 Extended Reference Area Monitoring <br />Locations". <br />Cover Sampling <br />Cover data were collected along 50 m transects using apoint-intercept method in <br />which data were recorded as interceptions of a point with plant species, litter, <br />standing dead plant material, soil or rock. Plant material produced during 2005 <br />and still standing was tallied by species. Litter was considered to be any organic <br />material that had fallen, or had begun to fall to the soil surface. Standing dead <br />. was any dead plant material that was produced in previous years but which was <br />still standing and had not lodged or broken off to become litter. Inorganic <br />t <br />