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Phase III Bond Release Evaluation ----- Year 2 of 2 <br />Blue Ribbon Mine <br />2006 &X107 Revegetation Success Evaluation <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />1.1 General <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2006 and 2007 to implement Phase <br />III vegetation evaluations within the revegetated portions of the Blue Ribbon Mine and reference areas, <br />in the interest of ascertaining revegetation success in general accordance with Rule 3.03, Release of <br />Performance Bornds and Rule 4.15.7, 8, & 9, Determining Revegetation Success. Evaluations that <br />occurred generally followed procedures indicated within approved permitting documents with certain <br />modifications in a~mpliance with recent Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety (DRMS) bond <br />release guidelines (Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues, April 18, 1995). <br />Pursuant to agreements reached with DRMS during a meeting on March 7, 2005, technical revisions were <br />made to the perrriit document with regard to the sampling procedures and revegetation success criteria. <br />All areas subject to sampling are exhibited on Maps 1 through 4. <br />Field sampling for the directly measurable variables of ground cover, current annual production, and <br />woody plant density, as well as the indirect determination of species diversity (composition) was <br />systematically conducted on May 21 & 22, 2006 and May 21 - 24, 2007. (Sampling in 2007 was <br />hampered by two days of intermittent rain). The early sampling season was necessary to facilitate data <br />collection before the local landowner trailed his sheep through the area. Cedar Creek's work was <br />completed prior to the introduction of sheep to the reclamation in both years. Current conditions notable <br />at the time of s~3mpling were documented through qualitative observations, and by several photos <br />providing a visual demonstration of site-specific conditions. Sampling was conducted by and/or under <br />the direct supervision of Cedar Creek's Senior Range Ecologist, Steven R. Viert and/or Senior Plant <br />Ecologist, Erik M. (Mohr. <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSC~CIATES, Inc. Page 1 Blue Ribbon Mine -Phase III <br />Bond Release Evaluation - 2007 <br />