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2008 Edna Mine Vegetation Sampling Report <br />r? <br />1. Overview <br />The Pittsburg & Midway Coal Mining Co. is in the process of addressing final bond release <br />requirements for the Edna Mine. Vegetation monitoring was conducted at the mine in 2005 and <br />2006 with all but one of the monitored areas passing all required parameters. The Moffat/West <br />Ridge Non-topsoiled bond release unit ("BRU") did not meet minimum vegetation cover <br />requirements at that time. The summer of 2006 was extremely dry; this adversely impacted the <br />normal growth of cool season plant species. Therefore, vegetation cover monitoring was <br />conducted again in the fall of 2008 on the Moffat/West Ridge Non-topsoiled BRU. This report <br />presents the results of the fall 2008 monitoring and documents that the Moffat/West Ridge Non- <br />topsoiled BRU meets or exceeds the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety <br />(DRMS) requirements and the vegetation cover standards established in the mine reclamation <br />plan. <br />1.1. Sampling Methodology <br />0 <br />Vegetation sampling was conducted in accordance with the Edna Mine Vegetation Final Bond <br />Release Monitoring Plan (dated April 8, 2005) approved by the Colorado DRMS. A copy of this <br />plan is available on file at the Colorado DRMS. Vegetation sampling was conducted at the Edna <br />Mine on September 29-30, 2008. The monitoring was conducted by Wayne Erickson and <br />Lindsey Brandt of Habitat Management, Inc. <br />1.2. Performance Standards & Statistical Analysis <br />Statistical analysis of vegetation parameter data was conducted as described in the Colorado <br />DRMS's Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues, April 18, 1995 ("Bond <br />Release Guideline"). When the reclaimed area parameter sample mean is equal to or greater <br />than 90% of the approved technical standard, then reclaimed vegetation is considered <br />successful for that parameter. In order to make a direct comparison of the reclaimed BRU and <br />the success standard, each vegetation parameter's sample population must meet sample <br />adequacy requirements. Final bond release vegetation performance standards for the <br />Moffat/West Ridge BRU are summarized in Table 1-1. <br />Table 1-1: Final Bond Release Veaetation Performance Standards <br />Diversity Standard for Non-Topsoil units is voluntary <br /> d <br />d A Vegetation Parameter <br />Reclaimed Bond <br />Release Unit (BRU) cres <br />Bon <br />e <br />(approximate) Vegetation <br />Cover Production Diversity' Shrub <br />Density <br /> 90% grass <br />Moffat/West <br />Ridge 690 47% N.A. 5% forbs N.A. <br /> 0 <br />5 /atree/shrub <br />Non-to soiled <br />1.3. Summarized Results <br />• <br />Results of the vegetation sampling in 2008 are summarized in Table 1-2. The Moffat/West <br />Ridge Non-topsoiled BRU satisfied the vegetation cover requirement for bond release in 2008. <br />Detailed results for the West Ridge/Moffat Non-Topsoiled BRU are provided in Section 2 <br />including statistical analysis of the data collected, photographs, and maps of transect locations. <br />Habitat Management, Inc. <br />December 12, 2008