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INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed and reference areas at Peabody Sage Creek Mining, LLC., Peabody <br />Sage Creek Mine (PSCM) was undertaken in July and August in both 2010 and 2011 by ESCO <br />Associates to provide data for formal testing of Revegetation Success in application for Phase III Bond <br />Release. Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those specified in a study plan submitted by <br />Peabody to Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (ESCO 2005b) for bond release testing on the <br />same lands when they were part of the Seneca II Mine permit area. <br />METHODS <br />Phase ill Bond Release Block (BRB) PSCM -1 Sampling <br />The 1039.4 acres of BRB PSCM -1 was assembled from reclamation parcels seeded from 1978 to 1994, <br />and includes lands previously sampled while under the Seneca II Mine permit as BRB -2, BRB -3, and <br />BRB -4 (ESCO 2006, 2007, 2009). This block includes land reclaimed between February 25, 1976 and <br />September 21, 1981 (subject to provisions of what may be termed "Interim" rules preceding the formal <br />start of provisions of the Colorado Permanent Regulatory Program), and land reclaimed between <br />September 22, 1981 and December 31, 1994 (subject to provisions of the Colorado Permanent <br />Regulatory Program). Sample areas locations are shown on Maps 1 and 2, "2010 and 2011 Vegetation <br />Monitoring Locations - Phase III BRB PSCM -1." <br />Reference Area Sampling <br />The Mountain Brush and Sagebrush Reference Areas were sampled to provide cover and production <br />data for comparison with reclaimed area data as per permit provisions. Reference Area sampling <br />locations are shown on Map 3 and 4, "2010 and 2011 Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Mountain Brush <br />and Sagebrush Reference Areas ". <br />1 <br />