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STATE OF COLORADO
<br />DIVISION OF RECLAMATION, MINING AND SAFETY
<br />Department of Natural Resources
<br />1313 Sherman St., Room 215 C O L O R A D O
<br />Denver, Colorado 80203 D IV IS I ON OF
<br />Phone: (303) 866-3567 RECLAMATION
<br />FAX: (303) 832-8106 MINING
<br />SAFETY
<br />To: Jim Stark
<br />From: Janet B' ns
<br />Re: Colowy asPon ease Request Vegetation Review
<br />Date: November ,
<br />I have reviewed Colowyo Coal Company L.P.'s (CCC) application for a phase III bond release on 987.3 acres at the
<br />Colowyo Mine. Forty parcels are included in the bond release block (BRB) and were seeded from 1979 to 1999. The
<br />seed mixes used were included in application, Table 2.05-7 and 2.05-8. The post-mining land use is rangeland as defined
<br />by Rule 1.04(71)(c). The locations of the parcels are shown in Exhibit 1, Phase III Bond Release map in the SL5
<br />application package. Thirty-five of the parcels are located at the reclaimed East Pit, and account for 932.4 acres. Five
<br />parcels are located at the reclaimed West pit (or West pit fill), and account for 54.92 acres.
<br />Vegetation Success standards:
<br />Vegetative cover: Phase III bond liability release is acceptable if vegetation established on the reclaimed land meets the
<br />requirement of 90% herbaceous cover of the reference area standard with 90% statistical confidence (SL5 app. P. 11),
<br />Rule 4.15.8(3)(a), and section 4.15 of the PAP.
<br />Vegetative productivity: Phase III bond liability release is acceptable if vegetation established crn the reclaimed land
<br />meets the requirement of 90% herbaceous production of the reference area standard with 90% statistical confidence
<br />Rule 4.15.8(4) and section 4.15 of the PAP.
<br />Vegetative species diversity: The diversity standard for this bond release block (parcels reclaimed prior to 2008) requires
<br />at least two cool season grasses with between 3% and 50% relative cover, and all forbs combined with between 1% and
<br />50% relative cover. Rule 4.15.8(5), and section 4.15 of the PAP.
<br />Woody plant Density: On pre-2008 reclamation woody stem density shall be 150 stems per acre on 3% of the reclaimed
<br />area. (PAP 4.15.8)
<br />Colowyo Coal Company is requesting phase III bond release on reclamation areas:
<br />EP001, EP002, EP003, EP004, EP005, EP006, EP007, EP008, EP009, EP010, EP011, EP012, EP013, EP014, EP015, EP016,
<br />EP017, EP018, EP019, EP020, EP021, EP022, EP023, EP024, EP025, EP026, EP027, EP028, EP029, EP030, EP031, EP032,
<br />EP033, EP034, EP035, WP001(comprised of WP001N and WP001S), WP002, WR005, WP006, and WP007.
<br />Reclaimed areas were sampled in 2007, 2008, and 2009 in accordance with the permit sampling methodology. Sample
<br />adequacy was calculated using Cochran formula and is acceptable to the DRMS. If data did not meet sample adequacy,
<br />the operator sampled at least 30 samples and ran reverse-null statistical analysis. This approach is also acceptable to
<br />the Division. The operator sampled the reclaimed parcels in two bond release blocks. Bond release block 1979-1995
<br />(BRB 79-95) includes parcels; EP001, EP002, EP003, EP004, EP005, EP006, EP007, EP008, EP009, EP010, EP011, EP012,
<br />EP013, EP014, EP015, EP016, EP017, EP018, EP019, EP020, EP021, EP022, EP023, EP024, EP025, EP026, EP027, WP001,
<br />Office of Office of
<br />Mined Land Reclamation Denver • Grand Junction • Durango Active and Inactive Mines
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