Laserfiche WebLink
E <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed areas at Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) Yoast Mine was <br />undertaken in July 2008 by ESCO Associates to facilitate SCC's continued interim monitoring of <br />the progress of these areas in relation to revegetation performance standards. In addition, in <br />2008, lands reclaimed during the years 2001 through 2005 were sampled for the purpose of <br />establishing the presence or absence of vegetation cover adequate to pass Phase II bond <br />release requirements. Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those specified by SCC. <br />METHODS <br />Reclamation Units and Sampling Locations <br />Reclaimed areas occurring from 2001 to 2005 that were sampled for purposes of collecting <br />information to be used in assessment of satisfaction of Phase II bond release criteria were <br />conducted at locations shown on Map 1, "2008 Phase II Bond Release Sampling Area". The <br />reclamation units sampled for purposes of interim monitoring at the Yoast Mine in 2008 are <br />shown on Map 2, "2008 Interim Monitoring Locations". Areas seeded in 2001, 2004, and 2006 <br />• reclamation areas (two, four, and seven years old, as per permit requirements) were each <br />sampled in 2008 as part of interim monitoring. <br />Extended Reference Area Sampling <br />The Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush/Snowberry, and Steep Mountain Brush Extended <br />Reference Areas as well as the old improved pasture area known as the Haul Road reference <br />area were sampled to provide data for comparison with reclaimed area data. Reference Area <br />sampling locations are shown on Map 3, "2008 Extended Reference Area Monitoring Sample <br />Locations", and Map 4, "2008 Haul Road Reference Area Monitoring Sample Locations". <br />Cover Sampling <br />Cover data were collected along 50 m transects in both reclaimed and reference areas using a <br />point-intercept method in which data were recorded as interceptions of a point with plant species, <br />litter, standing dead plant material, soil, or rock. Plant material produced during 2008 and still <br />standing was tallied by species. Litter was considered to be any organic material that had fallen, <br />or had begun to fall to the soil surface. Standing dead was any dead plant material that was <br />produced in previous years but which was still standing and had not lodged or broken off to <br />become litter. Inorganic materials greater than 1 cm in diameter were considered rock. The <br />. cover sampling points were optically projected using a Cover-Point Optical Point Projection <br />Device developed by ESCO Associates. The 50 m transects were randomly located and oriented <br />1