2007-11-29_REVISION - C1980005 (2)

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An old USGS weather station is still in place on the reclaimed Pre-Law lands near the south end of the bond release request area above Road E I. The site is obviously no longer in use. It was undetermined during the inspection whether or not the USGS will reuse the site in future. There is equipment in place at the surface surrounded by a fence. The site does not pose a problem for the reclamation, and is stable with good vegetative cover. Topsoil As indicated by SCC in their SL-02 bond release application, the area of mining within this Pre-Law parcel was disturbed prior to February 25, 1976 (before the Colorado Reclamation Board Rules became effective), and therefore SCC did not salvage or replace topsoil in the Pre-Law disturbance areas. The decision by the DRMS to not include topsoil salvage and replacement as a reclamation requirement for the Pre-Law lands was previously discussed in more detail above in Section II of this document. However there was a haul road constructed across the center of the pre-law mined area to provide access to ongoing mining. This haul road, approximately 8.2 acres, was regraded and topsoil replaced at a depth of one foot. This topsoil came from areas disturbed after August 3, 1977 (the date the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act passed). A portion of this haul road is shown in Photograph Number 3 as previously described. Based on the information presented in Appendix 13- 13 of the PAP, this road was reclaimed and revegetated in 1986. The former road location is adequately vegetated and is stable. Reve etation The site is well vegetated with no significant rills or gullies identified anywhere in the bond release area. There were relatively few bare spots. Two small areas of coal outcrop were located in higher elevations near the east end of the bond release area. The bare spots associated with coal outcrop are shown in Photograph Numbers 4 & 5. There were also several Marmot holes where the animals have burrowed. One of the Marmot hole locations is shown in Photograph Number 6. The amount of disturbance is minimal at these locations. None of the bare spots identified during the inspection were deemed a significant feature in the overall reclaimed landscape. Weed control efforts in this area have been successful. The only weed identified was limited to houndstongue located on the lower slopes of the bond release area. All of the houndstongue identified had been recently sprayed. Revegetation efforts appeared adequate with vegetation firmly established throughout the bond release area. Rabbitbrush and sagebrush are present and there was evidence of sage regenerating on the lower slopes of the site. On the north side of the site, in some locations mosses were present. Although not required of the Pre-Law area, Quantitative sampling was conducted in July 2005 by ESCO Associates. The results were provided in Attachment D of the bond release application and the 2005 Revegetation Monitoring Report. A summary of the results is provided below: