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INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />TO: MARCIA TALVITE - <br />FROM: JANET BINNS <br />SUBJECT: HAMILT MI , S AP TION REVIEW <br />DATE: 1/10/2011 <br />CC: SANDY BROWN, DAN F ERNANDEZ <br />I have reviewed Honeywood Coal Company's 2010 vegetation sampling report for the Hamilton Mine, C1991- <br />078. The 2010 Vegetation Study Report was submitted in response to adequacy concerns identified by the <br />Division in a letter dated May 27, 2010, and a conference call held with the operator on July 21, 2010. The <br />2010 Vegetation report was submitted in order to fulfill requirements of Phase II Bond Release <br />requirements, and provided the first year of vegetation data in accordance with Phase III Bond Release <br />requirements, with the second year of data expected to be collected during the summer of 2011. <br />The operator requested Phase II and Phase III bond release. <br />Phase II Bond Release review: <br />All reclaimed areas requested for bond release had an equal chance of being sampled. The operator <br />conducted vegetation sampling as agreed upon in a memo dated July 21, 2010. Sampling was conducted on a <br />systematic grid rotated 30 degrees west to minimize bias due to the seeding pattern. All reclaimed areas <br />requested for bond release were included within the area overlaid with the sampling grid. Two small areas, <br />north of pond B, and south of pond B, of Mine Area 1 (Map 2) did not have any cover transects fall within <br />their boundaries due to the small size of these areas. Visual inspection by Division personnel during the <br />bond release inspection, June 3, 2010, and regular I&E program found adequate cover establishment on these <br />two areas, as well as an area with less cover on the east side of the pond B embankment. <br />The reclaimed areas were grouped into two parcels; Mine Area 1, and Mine Area 3, based upon <br />mining and reclamation sequence (Map 2 and Map 3). Reclamation cover success is based upon comparison <br />the weighted averages from three reference areas; Grassland reference (comprised of a north and a south <br />parcel), Sagebrush reference A, and Sagebrush reference B. Weighted comparisons are based upon <br />composition of the respective pre-disturbance plant community. Mine Area 1 parcel was compared to a <br />weighted mean of Sage ref A (89%) and Grassland (11%). Mine Area 3 parcel was compared to a weighted <br />mean of Sage ref A (SO%) and Sage ref B (SO%). Both reclamation parcels and all three reference areas were <br />sampled to statistical adequacy for Phase II Bond Release data. <br />Results: Vegetative cover on Mine Area 1 parcel exceeded the weighted mean. Vegetation <br />establishment is deemed successful on the Mine Area 1 parcel for Phase II bond release. Vegetative cover on <br />Mine Area 3 parcel exceeded the weighted mean. Vegetation establishment is deemed successful on the Mine <br />Area 3 parcel for Phase II bond release.