Laserfiche WebLink
~s'+~~ <br />STATE OF III'IIIII!IIIIII'll <br />COLORADO <br />DIVISION OF MINERALS AND GEOLOGY <br />Deparlmenl nl Natural Rewurces <br />1113 Sherman $L, Rnom ? 15 Ir <br />L <br />Drnvcr, Colorado 80'_01 ~ <br />y <br />Phunc 13031 H66-3567 II l <br />FAY: 131111 83Ltl106 <br /> DEPARTMENT OF <br /> NATURAL <br /> RESOURCES <br />MEn-to <br /> Rov Romer <br /> <br />To: B <br />ron Walker GOVY.rOOr <br />y ;ame.s Eanne~d <br />~~ <br />From: Janet H. Binns E.ecun.e Director <br />, <br />hrichdel 8. Inny <br />Subject: Eagle 5 & 9, -81- ,Pastureland Reference Area Dn~s~nn Director <br />Date: June 23, 1998 <br />On June 16, 1998 I accompanied you to the Eagle 5 & 9 Mine to assess the suitability of Cyprus <br />Empire's proposed pasture reference area. Stipulation No. 10 had been placed on the permit as a <br />result of Technical Revision No. 29. Stipulation No. ] 0 states, "Approv;tl of the proposed <br />dryland seedmix, species diversity standard, and reference area for the No. 9 Portal area are <br />withheld pending Division inspection and evaluation of the proposed refs°rence area during the <br />1997 growing season." <br />The Division did not evaluate the proposed reference area in 1997, so tht; inspection was <br />conducted during June 1998. The proposed reference area is located southwest of Portal area 9. <br />The location of the proposed pasture reference area is depicted on Map 20 (received March 5, <br />1997) as Pastureland Reference Area D. This reference area would be used if the operator <br />reclaims the portal 9 area to pasture. Portal 9 area has an alternative posh-mining land use of <br />cropland. The post-mining land-use the area is seeded to will be determined at the time of <br />reclamation, and will depend upon the prevailing land use of the surrounding area at the time of <br />reclamation. <br />The proposed reference azea pasture was dominated by Bromrrs irrermis (Smooth brome), in <br />lesser concentrations Medicago saliva, and Agropyrorr cristala were observed. Occasional <br />Ccrrdnria draba, annual mustard, Asrragalus titer and Circitrm vulgare were observed in the <br />proposed area. Whitetop and thistles were not observed at a concentration that was a concern to <br />the Division. Cover was fair to good, with bare soil visible through the grass cover. <br />Cryptograms were observed on the soil surface. No evidence of surface ~°rosion was noted <br />during the inspection. Weather conditions were raining steadily during the inspection. The <br />proposed site had a ditch running through it. The Division would recommend placing the <br />reference area boundaries so that the ditch does not bisect the area. The proposed reference area <br />looks suitable for sampling as a reference area. Cyprus Empire will need to provide quantita[ive <br />vegetation cover and production data for this reference area for incorporation into the permit. <br />(Rule 4.15.7(3)) <br />Cattle have been in area already. Post-mining land use of pastureland would be in agreement <br />