2008-10-03_REPORT - C1981010 (2)

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Introduction • At the request of Trapper Mining Inc. (Trapper), Phase III final bond release revegetation sampling was conducted on one reclamation block area at the Trapper Mine. The reclamation area sampled corresponded to Rangeland Reclamation Block AD&H-AB, which was reclaimed between 1996 and 1998 and contains approximately 300.0 acres. The locations of the specific reclamation blocks sampled in this evaluation are depicted on the enclosed maps. This revegetation monitoring effort was prepared with the intention of satisfying the first year of the final two years of the Phase III monitoring requirement of the final bond release revegetation sampling requirements for that portion of Rangeland Reclamation Blocks AD&H-AB reclaimed between 1996 and 1998. Mr. Kent Crofts of 1ME, who has conducted previous vegetation sampling efforts at the Trapper Mme, adjacent Empire EneW Mine and numerous other sites m northwest Colorado in the past 30 years, directly participated in and supervised all field investigations. Assisting in this sampling effort was Mr. AAron Hailing who acted as field GPS technician and was responsible for determining all of the ftansect locations using the Trimble Model Pro XRS Global Positioning System. Both individuals assisted with the field sampling and data analysis. Methods Maps, in both electronic and hard paper format of the reclamation areas sampled in this revegetation monitoring effort were supplied by Mr. Forrest Luke, Environmental Manager of Trapper Mining Inc., who delineated to the field crews, the exact extent of the reclamation efforts at the Trapper Mines The specific sampling methodologies used in this evaluation are those found in the Divisionrs "Giddermes with Land Use and Vegetation Requirements of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mwing" issued in June of 1988 and the "Guidelines Regarding Sedected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues" issued April 18, 1995. In addition to these guidelines, the revised regulation changes as proposed in the 14 March 2003 Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG) document entitled "Rvvegetation, Land Use, Wildlife and Alluvial' Valley Floors" - Proposed Colorado Program Amendments, which have been adopted as Section 4.15.11, Revegeta on Sampling Methods and Statistical DemonstradonsforRevegetation Success was used with respect to statistical comparisons. Prior to commencing the fiwid sampling and during the preparation of this report, the Permit monitoring requirements vwere examined and discussed with Mr. Luke regarding the proposed sampling methods and data analysis methods to be used. Agreement on the sampling methodology used in this evaluation as well as permission to use the proposed program amendments was obtained by Trapper from the DMG prior to initiating field sampling and approved by the Division for use at the Trapper Mine for this sampling effort. In this evaluation, the vegetation parameters of production, plant cover, species diversity and shrub density were sampled. These data were then utilized to evaluate the successfulness of revegetation efforts with respect to cover, forage production, species diversity, and shrub density. Transect Locations. To ensure that all of the reclaimed areas within the one Rangeland Reclamation Block being evaluated had an equal chance of being sampled, the entire reclamation area was treated as a single sample unit and a totally randomized sampling effort was implemented. Utilizing the base map prepared by Trapper and our GPS unit, the extreme north, south, east and west: boundaries of the reclamation areas being evaluated were identified E