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STATE OF COLORADO <br />I?I1?I?lGN OF RECLAMAT`I?N, MINING ANQ SAFETY <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />? 313 Sherman t., Room X15 <br />Denver, Colorado 8003 <br />Phone: X303} 86?-3567 <br />I=AX: X303} 83?-8106 <br />September 4, 2009 <br />Tanga K. Hammond <br />J. E, stover ? Associates <br />nov?cap Coal Company, Inc. <br />p, ?. Boy 1430 <br />palisade, CO 152 <br />fie: Roadside 14Yine ?Perrr?it No, -?51?04?.} <br />200$ Revegetation ?valulatio?? Report <br />Dear Ms. I?anamond: <br />C?L?RADG <br />DIVISION 0? <br />R?LAMATI?N <br />h?ININCr <br />?? <br />SAFETY <br />Bil[ Ritter, Jr, <br />Governor <br />Harris D. SE?erman <br />Executive Director <br />Ronald 1N. Cottony <br />DiviSian Director <br />Natural Resource Yrustee <br />The Division of Reclamation, Mining and safety ?Division? has completed its review of the 2005 <br />Revegetatian Evaluation Report. The report was submitted by J.E, stover and Associates, Inc., <br />on behalf of no?vcap Coal Company ?no?cap}, as a part of Snowcap's 2008 Annual <br />Reclamation Report. The report vas prepared by Cedar Creek Associates, tic, UCCA}, the <br />vegetation consultant to nocap. <br />The report vas very thorough and well organized. arnpling methods and locations mere fully <br />described using narrative, maps, and illustrations, a?ad data ?vexe clearly presented using charts <br />and tables, supplemented Frith polar photos of the various sampled areas. summary narrative <br />was concise and ?e11 supported. Mr, Dan Mathews of our office reviewed the report and has one <br />point of clarification regarding section 1.2 Bach round and S'?andards or Success, and a number <br />of comments regarding Section 4,Q .?ec?m?nendations. <br />Section 1.2 <br />1. At the bottom ofpae 2, contlnuing onto page 3, CCA presents the species diversity <br />standard and recommends a modification to the standard. The modification CCA <br />recommends is argued to be necessary, because ".. ,the ubiquitous and invasive annual <br />grass, cheatgrass ??4ni?san??a ??c?oru?n}, has relative cover values approaching or <br />surpassing 70?/o in years fa?vrable to growth in both reference areas, s ?vel1 a se?reral <br />revegetated units". <br />The Division does not dispute the heavy presence of cheatgrass over much of the permit <br />area., reclaimed and undisturbed areas alil?e, but the provision of the diversity standard <br />CCA expresses concern with is no longer in effect. The current standard, approved in <br />2o0,1ncludes the follo?ving provls1on ?20?5 revised language is 1n bold}: <br />?ffirre of Office of <br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver + brand J?ncti?n • Durango Active and Inactive Mines