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INTRODUCTION <br />• Quantitative sampling of reclaimed areas at Seneca Coal Company's (SCC) Seneca IIW Mine <br />was undertaken in July 2009 by ESCO Associates to facilitate SCC's continuing monitoring of the <br />progress of these areas in relation to revegetation performance standards. 2009 data collection <br />was pursued toward the end of providing datasets adequate to allow formal testing of <br />Revegetation Success and for use in eventual application for Phase 2 (II) Bond Release. <br />Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those specified in a study plan submitted by SCC <br />to Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (ESCO 2005b). <br />METHODS <br />Phase 2 (ll) Area Sampling <br />All eligible Seneca IIW reclaimed lands were sampled for cover to provide information that would <br />be of use were an application for Phase 2 (II) bond release for those lands. These areas included . <br />areas seeded in 2005 and all years prior. Sample areas and sample locations are shown on Map <br />1, "Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Phase 2 Bond Release Block." <br />• Extended Reference Area Sampling <br />The Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush/Snowberry, Steep Mountain Brush, and Western <br />Wheatgrass/Alkali Sagebrush Extended Reference Areas were sampled to provide data for <br />comparison with reclaimed area data. Reference Area sampling locations are shown on Map 2, <br />"2009 Extended Reference Area Monitoring Locations". <br />Summary of Sampling Design <br />Action Phase II Bond Release Reference Areas <br />Quantitative Cover Sampling Min. 20 samples <br />* Min. 15 samples (and to <br />* <br /> (and to adequacy <br />) adequacy <br />) <br />Quantitative Production NA** NA** <br />Sampling <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling - NA - sampled in 2009 for NA <br />Background informational purposes <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling - NA NA <br />Concentration Areas <br />Species Density Sampling NA - sampled in 2009 for NA - sampled in 2009 for <br /> informational purposes informational purposes <br />Success Demonstration Hypoth. Testing for cover NA <br />Approach <br />• * Or to fifty samples <br />** Not applicable - Phase II bond release is concerned with cover values only <br />1