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. • Monitoring <br />ESCO Associates, Inc conducted revegetation monitoring of permanently revegetated areas during <br />the summer of 2004. The 2004 annual revegetation monitoring report is submitted as a separate <br />document (ESCO and SCC, 2005). <br />• Weed Control <br />Survey for noxious weeds was carried out on the Yoast Mine pemut azea in 2004. Monitoring was <br />conducted in 2004 to determine the need or level of retreatment necessary for azeas sprayed in 2003. <br />Canada thistle was the primary tazget species in all control areas, with lesser activity directed towards <br />areas of hounds tongue and whitetop. The applied herbicide consisted of a tank mix of 2.5 gallons of <br />22K Toxdon 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 areas 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 />apphcator. The weed control areas will continue to be monitored in 2005 for effectiveness and <br />necessary retreatment. See attached weed control daily logs and the Weed Control Areas map fox a <br />more detailed description of the 2004 herbicide application. <br />SEDIMENTATION POND SURVEYS <br />SCC is required by Pemrit C-82-057 to monitor sedimentation ponds for sediment storage capacities. <br />• This schedule provides a sediment yield history and gives advance warning to operations personnel <br />when sediment clean-out work is required. In accordance with Rule 4.05.6(11)(c), SCC visually <br />inspects each pond a minimum of quarterly each yeaz. 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 <br />detected which would require mitigation. <br />Based on the 2004 survey, all sediment ponds have sufficient sediment storage. Additionally, all ponds <br />have been discharging in compliance with the approved NPDES permit effluent limitations. Yearly <br />sediment delivery estimates to the ponds aze considerably less than originally calculated, since the <br />areas in these watersheds have now been reclaitned and revegetated. <br />The results of the annual survey are shown on Table 04.3, Sediment Pond Capadties. <br />STOCg TANS <br />No stock ponds have been constmcted at the Yoast Mine. <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 Cohunbian sharp-tailed grouse leks <br />3. Checking golden eagle nests <br />• Big game aerial survey data, eagle nesting activity and other wildlife monitoring data collected during <br />Febmary 2005 stu-vey is presented in Wildlife Monitoring Report. <br />