2011-03-03_REVISION - C1981028 ‎(3)‎

• Permit No: C1981028
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 3/3/2011
• Doc Name: Letter & Application
• From: Savage & Savage
• To: DRMS
• Type & Sequence: SL6
• Email Name: RDZ
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
qW As required by Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) regulations,
coal mining operations must demonstrate that the vegetation established on reclaimed areas
of coal mines support the approved post-mining land use and meet the approved success
standard for vegetation cover prior to final Phase III bond release. This year's vegetation
sampling represents the second of two years of sampling required prior to final liability and
reclamation bond release for selected areas at the Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine.
Quantitative vegetation sampling of 1998, 1999, and 2000 revegetation areas was conducted
in August 2010. Total vegetation cover, total herbaceous production, and species
composition were sampled. Comparisons were made between total vegetation cover and
total herbaceous production means from the reclamation areas and predicted values
calculated from the approved equations based on on-site precipitation from September 2009
to July 2010. The total vegetation cover mean for the reclamation areas (51.91%) exceeded
the predicted value of 36.28 percent total vegetation cover in this years sampling. The mean
total herbaceous production mean for the reclamation areas (175.20 g/m2) exceeded the
predicted total herbaceous production criterion of 156.78 g/m2. Species composition of the
reclamation areas was also evaluated from a final success criterion perspective. Results from
this year's vegetation sampling at the Keenesburg Mine revealed that the vegetation of the
reclaimed areas exceeded the final species composition revegetation success for the mine.
Further, the state of development of vegetation in these areas at the mine shows that the
permittee has established a diverse, effective, and permanent vegetative cover of the same
seasonal variety as the original vegetation, meeting the final success criterion for species
composition.
1.0 INTRODUCTION
This vegetation report represents the second of two vegetation sampling events prior to
application for final Phase III bond and liability release for selected parcels at the Keenesburg
Mine (Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety permit C-1981-028) owned by
Coors Energy Company.
Information in this report addresses the vegetative condition of selected reclaimed areas
eligible for Phase III bond release at the mine. The Colorado Division of Reclamation,
Mining, and Safety (CDRMS) requires quantitative vegetation sampling and reporting as a
demonstration of successful revegetation establishment prior to Phase III bond release.
Quantitative information in this report addresses the vegetative condition of the 1998, 1999,
and 2000 reclamation areas at the mine. These reclamation areas include Reclamation Areas
2, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 19. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with
Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Surface Coal Mining Rules 2.04. 10 and 4.15 and
current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling was conducted between
August 24 and 29, 2010 by Michael and Edith Savage of Savage and Savage, Inc.
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
Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 1
2010 Phase III Vegetation Study