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iii-iiiiiiiiniiiiii <br />999 <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />DeNarlmenr of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman St.. Room 215 D I v 15 1 0 N O F <br />Denver, Colorado 80203 <br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 MINERAL 5 <br />FAX: (3031 832-8106 & <br />GEOLOGY <br />March 29, 2000 RECLAMATION <br />MINING•SA FETY <br />Mr. Mike Altavilla gill Owens <br />Seneca Coal Company c°°ef"°r <br />Box 670 Greg E. Walther <br />Exe<wive Dveaor <br />Hayden, CO 81639 Michael B. Long <br /> Division Oneclar <br />RE: 1999 Revegetation Monitoring Reports <br />Dear Mr. Altavilla: <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 azeas shown on Map 1. Map 1 labels the reclamation units as 1995 <br />and 1997. Please clarify what azeas were sampled. <br />2. 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 lines and additional features, such as roads, ponds, and <br />facilities, were included on the Map. <br />4. I overlaid Map 1 on Exhibit 13-1 of the petmit. Exhibit 13-1 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 area. Were trees and shrubs planted in that unit? <br />5. In the discussion of woody plant density it is stated that the woody plant density <br />standard is 2,000 stemslacre. This is incorrect. The woody plant density standazd <br />