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III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />yoasf <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Depanmem n( Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman 51., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: 1303) 855J55i <br />FA\. (J031 832-8105 <br />March 29, 2000 <br />Mr. Mike Altavilla <br />Seneca Coal Company <br />BOX 670 <br />Hayden, CO 81639 <br />RE: 1999 Revegetation Monitoring Reports <br />Deaz Mr. Altavilla: <br />DIVISION OF <br />MINERALS <br />GEOLOGY <br />R E C L A M A T I O N <br />MINING•SAFETY <br />Rdl Owens <br />Covemw <br />Greg E. Walther <br />6ecuove Director <br />Michael B Long <br />Division Director <br />I have reviewed the Seneca Coal Company (SCC) Annual Revegetation Monitoring <br />Reports for the Seneca II 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 prepazed 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 regarding 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 />1. The report says that the reclamation sampling units were the 1992 and 1997 <br />reclamation aeeas shown on Map 1. Map 1 labels the reclamation units as 1995 <br />and 1997. Please clazify what areas were sampled. <br />Map 2 was not included. It is referenced under the two stage sampling for the <br />Wadge Pasture. <br />3. Using Map 1 alone it is difficult to tell where the samples area are. It would be <br />helpful if topographic -ines 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 Annual Reclamation Report and did not see that they were planted in <br />that azea. Were trees and shrubs planted in that unit? <br />In the discussion of woody plant density it is stated that the woody plant density <br />standard is 2,000 stems/acre. This is incorrect. The woody plant density standard <br />