2008-08-13_REVISION - C1981013 (2)

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Woody plants did not exceed 5% cover in the reclaimed rangeland areas in 2005 Again, referring to Table D above, in 2006 vegetative cover on the pastureland reclaimed area (20.9%) exceeded the 90th percentile of the cover on the pastureland reference area (17.6%). The reclaimed rangeland cover (14.5%) exceeded the 901h percentile cover on the rangeland reference area (11.5%). For production data collected in 2006 on the irrigated pastureland, the reclaimed area sample mean (496 Ibs/acre) exceeded 90% of the irrigated pastureland reference area sample mean (300 Ibs/acre). For production data collected in 2006 on the reclaimed rangeland, the sample mean (218 Ibs/acre) far exceeded 90% of the rangeland reference area sample mean (28 Ibs/acre). The species diversity standard for the reclaimed rangeland was achieved in 2006 as documented in Table A-7 of the bond release report. Contributing cool season grasses were smooth brome, western wheatgrass and slender wheatgrass. Warm season grasses were blue grama and little bluestem. The forb was alfalfa. Woody plants did not exceed 5% cover in the reclaimed rangeland areas in 2006. Based on the data collected during the summers of 2005 and 2006, the applicant has demonstrated that the approved revegetation success standards for cover, production, species diversity and shrub composition have been achieved on the reclaimed areas at the Golden Eagle Mine. A diverse, effective and permanent vegetation cover of the same seasonal variety native to Las Animas County has been established that will support the post mining land use of pastureland and rangeland. Release of lands overlying underground workings This bond release also requests liability release of about 633 acres of lands overlying underground workings. The majority of this area lies north of Highway 12 over three longwall panels that were mined or partially mined prior to mine closure. It also applies to those workings lying under reclaimed lands south of Highway 12 that were not released under Surety Release No. 2 (SL-02). Ongoing activities in this area include coal bed methane production from a series of wells completed at multiple intervals below the Maxwell coal seam. As a consequence of subsidence, small subsidence cracks developed mainly on ridgelines or steep slopes adjacent to ridges. These surface features have little or no impact to the land use of the area. The landowner of the majority of the land north of Highway 12, XTO Energy, expressed no concerns or objections due to the limited number and extent