2011-02-28_REPORT - C1981028 (5)

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Quantitative vegetation monitoring of Reclamation Area 30, revegetated in 2006 at the Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine, was conducted in August 2010. Vegetation cover, total herbaceous production, and species composition were sampled. Reclamation Areas 25, 29, and 31 were qualitatively evaluated for vegetation cover, total herbaceous production, and species composition in August 2010. Comparisons were made between total vegetation cover and total herbaceous production means from Reclamation Area 30 and predicted values calculated from the approved final revegetation success equations, based on on-site precipitation from September 2009 to July 2010. These predictive equations establish the final revegetation success criteria for total vegetation cover and total herbaceous production for the mine. The sample means for total vegetation cover (52.601/6) from Reclamation Area 30 in 2010 exceeded the predicted values of 36.28 percent total vegetation cover. The total herbaceous production (144.85 grams/m) from the sampled area was within ten percent of the predicted 156.78 grams/m2 total herbaceous production success criterion, thereby meeting the final success criterion for production. Species composition of the reclamation areas was also evaluated from a final success criterion perspective. Reclamation Area 30 had two perennial warm season graminoids and one perennial cool season graminoid meeting the species composition requirements this season, but lacked one qualifying perennial warm season graminoid to satisfy all requirements of the final revegetation success criteria for species composition. Quarterly inspections of the reclamation areas were conducted during 2010 to assess the presence and impacts of pests, noxious weeds, or disease to the revegetation. No pests, noxious weeds or diseases were identified during the 2010 inspections that negatively impacted the revegetation efforts. 1.0 INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of the annual revegetation monitoring and pest and disease inspections for the Keenesburg Mine (Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety permit C-1981-028) owned by Coors Energy Company. Quantitative information in this report addresses the vegetative condition of Reclamation Area 30, revegetated in 2006 at the mine. Vegetative sampling is required by the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) as part of ongoing reclamation monitoring. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Surface Coal Mining Rules 2.04. 10 and 4.15 at the time of sampling and current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling for the areas monitored was conducted August 24 and 25, 2010 by Savage and Savage, Inc. biologists. The Keenesburg Mine is located in Weld County, Colorado, approximately seven (7) miles north of Keenesburg, Colorado and is accessed by Weld County Road 59. Coors Energy Company operated the Keenesburg Mine for coal extraction from 1980 to 1988. Reclaimed areas sampled in 2010 were backfilled, graded, topsoiled and revegetated in accordance with the approved mining and reclamation plan. The revegetation standards used to evaluate these areas are those currently in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the Keenesburg Mining and Reclamation Permit (C-1981-028). Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 5 2010 Revegetation Monitoring Report