2011-04-06_REVISION - C1980005 (3)

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Seneca 11 Mine March 2011 SL-5 Phase 11 Bond Release Request • area requested for this Phase II bond release. Based on the results of the topsoil depth sampling, the area meets or exceeds the estimated replacement depths over the entire re-topsoiled area. Attachment D, Topsoil Depth Sampling Summary, presents a tabulation and statistics of the sampling effort. The documentation for this sampling effort is presented in the Seneca II permit document in Tab 9, Attachment 9-4, and in Annual Reclamation Reports submitted since 1986. • Revegetation (Cover) Success Vegetation establishment will be considered acceptable if the cover of the revegetated area is at least 90 percent of the cover from the reference area or other standard with 90 percent statistical confidence (Rule 4.15.8). Phase II bond release is being requested for portions of BRB-3, BRB-4 and BRB-5 reclaimed blocks at the Seneca II Mine. These lands have established vegetation that is at least two years old and are able to support the approved post-mining land use. Phase II revegetation success • evaluations were based on the applicable success standard requirements spelled out in Appendix 13-13 of the Seneca II permit, Rules 3.03.1(2)(b) and 4.15.8 and the Division's Guideline Regarding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues (April 1995). Establishment of vegetation is demonstrated by meeting the appropriate cover success standard based on statistically adequate sampling. Species composition and representation of the species to meet final diversity requirements is addressed by the vegetation cover data and evaluations using species diversity assessments included in Appendix 13-13 of the Seneca II Mine permit. In 2006, the Seneca II Mine was divided into five (5) bond release blocks (BRB 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) to aid in vegetation data collection and analysis for Phase II and Phase III bond release. In 2010 with approval of the Peabody Sage Creek Mine (PSCM) permit, much of the reclaimed lands contained in the Seneca II Mine BRB areas were transferred to PSCM, leaving only a small portion of lands within the Seneca II Mine permit (see PR-02 for the Seneca II Mine approved on January 19, 2011). This Phase II bond release application includes BRB-3 areas which were topsoiled and revegetated from 1989 through 1995 and BRB-4 and BRB-5 areas which were • topsoiled and revegetated from 1997 through 2003. BRB-3, BRB-4 and BRB-5 areas are shown on Map 2, Chronological Revegetation. 5