2010-07-19_REPORT - C1980006

• Permit No: C1980006
• IBM Index Class Name: REPORT
• Doc Date: 7/19/2010
• Doc Name: 2009 Reveg Report Review
• From: DRMS
• To: Kerr Coal Company
• Permit Index Doc Type: Reveg Monitoring Report
• Email Name: RDZ
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO
DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
Department of Natural Resources
1313 Sherman St., Room 215 COLORADO
Denver, Colorado 80203 D I V I S I O N OF
Phone: [phone] RECLAMATION
FAX: [phone] MINING

SAFETY
Bill Ritter, Jr.
Governor
Mike King
Executive Director
July 19, 2010 Loretta E. Pineda
Director
Mr. George Patterson
General Mine Manager
Kerr Coal Company
P.O. Box 459
Florence, CO 81226
Re: Marr Mine, Permit No. C1980-006, 2009 Revegetation Monitoring report
Dear Mr. Patterson:
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) has reviewed the 2009 Revegetation Monitoring
report for the Marr Mine in Jackson County Colorado. The Marr Mine is owned and operated by Kerr Coal Company
(KCC), and the report was produced by KCC's consultant, IlVIE of Yampa, Colorado. Sampling was conducted in 2009
on the following areas:
• The 1999 reclamation areas at the mine site (reseeded in 2000) consisting of 8.29 acres,
The loadout area,
The alkali sagebrush reference area, and
The loadout reference area.
The data from the 2009 sampling event demonstrates that both the 1999 reclamation parcels at the mine and the reclaimed
loadout area meet the reclamation success standards with one exception: the species diversity standard was not met at the
mine location.
On page 13 of the 2009 Revegetation Monitoring report, IME presents the argument that the mine area species diversity
standard is unrealistic because each sampling transect in the reference area would not meet the standard. However, the
alkali sagebrush reference area met the species diversity standard based upon the 2009 sample data, indicating to the
Division that the approved species diversity standard is appropriate.
If KCC and WE believe that the approved reclamation success standards are not reflective of the approved post-mining
land use objectives, the appropriate process to request a change to these standards is a technical revision submitted to the
Division before submitting a bond release application for the reclaimed areas in question. Please ensure that any proposed
change to the diversity standard meet the following regulations.
Rule 4.15.8(2): "Vegetative cover and herbaceous production, species diversity and woody plant density on
the reclaimed surface shall be at least equal to (as defined below) the vegetative cover and herbaceous
production, species diversity and woody plant density of living plants on the approved reference area or the
standards established in 4.15.7(2)(d). In addition, the vegetation on the reclaimed area shall be of the same
seasonal variety native to the area of the disturbed land, or shall consist of species that support the approved
post-mining land use. "
Office of Office of
Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines