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1 ' 1985 ANNUAL RECLAMATION REPORT PERMIT N0. C-84-062 ' This report addresses the disturbance and subsequent reclamation of coal mining operations conducted by Colorado Yampa Coal Company at Energy Mine No. 3 in Routt County, Colorado. Operations at this mine were previously con- ' ducted under Permit 76-16; they are now proceeding under Permit C-84-062. Surface coal mining operations began in 1974 and were continuous through ' September, 1980. With the exception of reclamation activities, the surface mine has remained inactive since 1980. Underground mining activity was ini- tiated in May 1979, but was curtailed in June of 1980 due to insurmountable geotechnical constraints. The old portal area has been backfilled and graded. ' When conditions allow, CYCC will topsoil and seed the area. The proposed mining area is located south of County Road #33 near the conflu- ' ence of Foidel and Middle Creeks. Topsoil has been stripped and stockpiled. Overburden will be removed initially with a truck/loader combination and later with a dozer operation. Coal will be extracted with the equipment used to 1 provide access to the seam. When the mining operation is complete, topsoil will be placed on regraded, recontoured spoil material. The area will be seeded with the approved seeding mixtures during favorable growth periods. Contour furrows will be installed to enhance soil moisture conditions and to ' help stabilize the site. A detailed description of the cultural practices employed as part of the reclamation process is presented under Rule 2.05 of Permit C-84-062, submitted in January, 1984. ' The enclosed map delineates the area disturbed by mining and subsequent recla- mation. The major categories of disturbance are graded spoil, stockpiles, ' topsoiled and seeded. The map shows the number of acres seeded, the date, and the seed mixture. Seed mixtures, as coded on the reclamation map, are pre- sented in Table 3. ' Table 1 displays the calculated acreage for cumulative and current disturbance and reclamation within the C-84-062 permit boundary. _ During the 1985 re- porting period, 57.5 acres were disturbed. The cumulative total of distur- ' bance and reclamation is 293.0 acres. In 1985, 32.1 -acres were seeded. Adding this amount to that of previous years, a cumulative total of 153.0 acres has been seeded, which represents approximately 52% of the total af- fected acres. If conditions allow, approximately 51 acres of land will be ' seeded during the 1986 planting season. Combining the acreage of seeded land with topsoiled land and regraded, recontoured spoil, indicates about 70 per- cent (203.9 acres) of the total disturbance is either reclaimed or in some ' stage of reclamation. The reclaimed sites at Mine 3 were monitored in the 1985 field season. The ' parameters of cover (%) and production (g/%,m2 and lbs/acre) are presented in Table 2. Cover and production were evaluated using methodologies outlined under Rule 2.04 of the C-84-062 permit. Far the most part, the reclamation has been successful.