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INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed and reference areas at Seneca Coal Company (SCC) Seneca IIW Mine <br />was undertaken in July and August in 2011 by ESCO Associates for formal testing of Revegetation Success <br />in application for Phase III Bond Release. The present report constitutes data from year one of the required <br />two years of testing. Methods, sample areas, and sample sizes were those specified in a study plan <br />submitted by SCC to Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (ESCO 2005b). <br />METHODS <br />Phase 111 Bond Release Block 1 Sampling <br />The 362.25 acres of the 2011 -2012 Bond Release Block 1 was assembled from reclamation parcels <br />seeded from 1990 to 2002. This block includes land reclaimed between September 22, 1981 and <br />December 31, 1994 (subject to provisions of the Colorado Permanent Regulatory Program). Sample areas <br />and locations are shown on Map 1, "2011 Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Phase III BRB -1." <br />Reference Area Sampling <br />The Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush, Steep Mountain Brush and Western Wheatgrass/ Alkali <br />Sagebrush Extended Reference Areas were sampled to provide cover and production data for comparison <br />with reclaimed area data. Reference Area sampling locations are shown on Map 3, "2011 Vegetation <br />Monitoring Locations - Reference Areas ". <br />1 <br />