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III IIIIIIIIIIIII III <br />STATE OF COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1317 Sherman St., Room 215 <br />Denver, Colorado 80207 <br />Phone: 1703)8663567 <br />FAX. U03) 832-8106 <br />February 3, 1999 <br />Michael G. Altavilla <br />Seneca Coal Company <br />P.O. Drawer D <br />Hayden, CO 81639 <br />Re: Toast iVlinc (Permit Vu. C-94-08'_) <br />Review of 1997 Annual Reclamation Report <br />Dear Mr. AI[avilla: <br />UIYISION Of <br />,MINERALS <br />S- <br />GEOLOGY <br />0.E Cln`\RLION <br />nINING•SaFEiT <br />Bdl pwens <br />Governor <br />GrevE Walther <br />Executive D~reaor <br />m~chaei B. Lon, <br />Dveaor <br />The Division has reviewed the referenczd report with respect to topsoil, revegetation, and wildlife <br />requirements of the approved permit. The permit document contains requ'vements that the Annual <br />Reclamation Report include certain specific information including an annual soil balance report, regradzd <br />spoil sampling data, seed tags for all seedmixes used ~n a given year, quantitative vegetation sampling in <br />years 2, 4, and 7 following the year of seedine, and various wildlife monitoring requirements. <br />Soil Reolacement <br />There were apparently no final graded areas available in 1997, so no spoil monitoring was conducted. <br />Appropriate soil balance information was submitted and appears to document compliance with projections . <br />Revegetation <br />The 1997 reported seedmix does not appear to be appropriate. The mix is listed as Seed Mix #I, but it <br />does not correspond to either Mix IA (Shrub srassland-Mine Area) or Mix IB (Shrub grassland-Haul <br />Road Corridor), as specified in the approved permit. <br />Please ensure that the appropriate and approved seedmix is used itL the future. <br />Wildlife <br />There appear to be two deficiencies with respect to wildlife monitoring reporting. Specifically, the plan <br />requires recording and reporting of big game and high interest species mortality related to mine activities <br />(roadkills, fence hang-ups, etc). No inforrna[ion was reported in regard to [his commitment. In addition, <br />the approved plan requires an annual ground search each spring for any new sagegrouse or sharptail lek <br />sites in the study area. Documentation of such searches was not included in the ARR. <br />2. An explanation should be provided, and measures need [o be taken to ensure that this required <br />monitoring is conducted and documented in future ARR's. <br />