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requirement of three warm season perennial grass species and one cool season perennial grass. On <br />the 1995/1997 BRB, the 2008 vegetation sampling event recorded the four perennial plant species <br />with the highest relative importance as Prairie sandreed (19.14% r.i.), Mountain brome (18.60% <br />r.i.), Sand dropseed (18.60% r.i.), and Blue grama (11.45% r.i.). None of the species encountered in <br />the 2008 sampling on either bond release block with greater than 3 % relative importance were <br />considered noxious or prohibited species. <br />No woody species are required for bond release. Coors Energy Company has a noxious weed <br />management plan and actively implements it. Only one noxious weed species, Cheatgrass, was <br />encountered in the 2007 and 2008 vegetation sampling events. Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is a <br />problem species throughout the western United States, though its presence in the reclaimed areas at <br />the Keenesburg Mine is minimal. Coors Energy Company actively uses fire management to control <br />Cheatgrass in the reclaimed areas. Cheatgrass is considered a noxious weed according to the <br />Colorado Noxious Weed Act, but is not considered mandatory for control (C list). The Weld <br />County weed control district list is the same as the State weed control list. As such, Cheatgrass is a <br />C list species not requiring mandatory control. Coors Energy Company weed management efforts <br />are acceptable as demonstrated by the low proportion of noxious species present in the reclaimed <br />areas. <br />Industrial Land Use <br />Three oil and gas development wells, along with roads and supports facilities, were previously <br />permitted in parcels 8, 11, 12, and 20 within the SL4 bond release area, as well as in parcels 7, 9, 10, <br />19, which are not included in this bond release application. These wells, roads, and facilities were <br />permitted as an industrial post-mining land-use. The operator has a surface use agreement with the <br />gas development company, requiring the gas company to manage, maintain and conduct final <br />reclamation of the gas well pads, access roads and associated oil and gas development facilities. The <br />wells and/or their facilities are located within parcels 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 19 and 20 and total 11.15 <br />acres. Only parcels 8, 11, 12 and 20 are subject to this bond release application, and the acreage <br />associated with oil and gas well, roads, etc. in these three parcels is 9.83 acres. These three oil and <br />gas development wells and their associated industrial post-mining land use were approved with <br />Technical Revisions TR36 and TR39. The wells and associated facilities have been installed and <br />fenced, and a stabilization seed mix planted by the oil and gas company. The Division finds that the <br />industrial land use has been implemented on the 9.83 acres encompassing these three oil and gas <br />wells, and meets the requirements of Rule 4.15.10(2). <br />Revegetation Summary and Conclusions <br />Based upon a review of the mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and site <br />inspections, the Division finds that Coors Energy Company has established vegetation in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan. Coors Energy Company has established vegetation <br />which supports the approved post mine land use and meets the approved success standards for <br />vegetative cover, vegetative productivity, and species diversity. <br />C1981-028, SL4 8 10/19/2009