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INTRODUCTION <br />• Beginning in 2005, sampling of vegetation conditions as part of final bond release testing on reclaimed lands will be <br />undertaken at the Seneca II Mine in Routt County, Colorado. The procedures proposed are set forth below. Passage <br />of the federal Surface Mine Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 established a general separation between pre-law" <br />and post -law" reclaimed lands. But beyond thatgeneral separation, and in the context of Colorado mining laws, there <br />are a few other categories of reclamation based on the date of reclamation. <br />Among the lands included in this evaluation (as shown on Map 1 Bond Release Blocks and Parcel L.ocations), there <br />are some parcels that were mined and reclaimed in 1972 and early 1973 that would be subject to provisions of the <br />Colorado Open Cut Land Reclamation Act of 1969. On these land., reclamation was to be `carried to completion <br />with all reasonable diligence. " Evaluation of these areas is proposed in the form of a qualitative description with very <br />limited quantitative vegetation sampling. <br />Lands mined and reclaimed between July 1, 1973 and February 24, 1976, near the north end of the permit area, are <br />subject to provisions of the Colorado Open Cut Mining Land Reclamation Act of 1973 (effective July 1, 1973). <br />Provisions of this act included grading to "the greatest extent possible, restore slopes to their original condition. " No <br />slopes too steep to allow traverse by livestock were allowed, without Board approval. Revegetation provisions were <br />similar to the 1969 Act. Vegetation evaluation of these arras is proposed in the form of a qualitative description with <br />very limited quantitative vegetation sampling. <br />With the issuance of Board Rules effective February 25, 1976, revegetation was required to `estaGlisb a diverse, <br />effective and permanent vegetative cover native to the area of land that was affected" and "capable of self - regeneration <br />and plant succession without dependence on irrigation, soil amendments, or fea&Zer" and "at least equal in extent of <br />cover to the natural vegetation of the area prior to mining" Introduced species could be used when regarded as <br />temporary bee toward native species estabksbment. Lands reclaimed between February 25, 1976 and May 3, 1978 <br />fall under rules promulgated under the 1973 Colorado Act and those promulgated under the Colorado Mined Land <br />Reclamation Act of 1976 (effective May, 1977). Revegetation requirements were similar to those of the rules under the <br />1973 Act. For these area., the requirement that the vegetation be not only `capable of self- regeneration" but also `at <br />least equal in extent of cover to the natural vegetation of the surrounding area" necessitates quantitative vegetation <br />• samping. Although the rules did not formally require vegetation reference areas, it is proposed that data from the <br />Seneca II - Sagebrush and Mountain Brush /Aspen reference areas be used to provide information to frame the <br />qualitative discussion of the comparative cover (and production) data. <br />Lands reclaimed between May 3, 1978 and Sept 22, 1981 are to be treated under provisions of the interim program, <br />evaluating cover, productivity, and species diversity on the basis of `insults which could reasonably be expected using <br />methods of revegetation required under the initial program performance standards and the requirements of their <br />approved permit at the time. " <br />Lands mined and reclaimed on or after Sept 23, 1981 are subject to the permanent program <br />requirements. It is anticipated that final bond release for lands within the Seneca II permit <br />area will be requested under two or more applications to be submitted over a period of 10 or <br />more years. The initial application wig include lands reclaimed prior to issuance of the <br />permanent program requirements (September 23, 1981), as well as lands reclaimed on or after <br />that date. The most recently reclaimed lands to be included in the initial Phase III bond <br />release application were last seeded in 1995. <br />Bond Release Blocks <br />It is proposed that reclaimed lands addressed in this evaluation of revegetation success be divided into five Bond Release <br />Blocks (BRB .r). BRB's 1, 2, and 3 will be included in the initial bond release application, while <br />BRB's 4 and 5 will be included in subsequent bond release applications. The locations and <br />ESCO Associates 13 -13 -1 7R40 * 03106 <br />