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events led to calculation of a projected yield of 286 tons of <br /> sediment/acre/year. It can be anticipated that the yield from 1:1 slopes with <br /> little or no cover would be even higher, and, very likely, much higher. The <br /> cumulative yield of sediment across the full extent of steep slopes left on the <br /> Coal Basin site certainly leaves no doubt as to the necessity to control that <br /> erosion, as is required by state and federal law and regulation and as was <br /> clearly to be addressed in the approved reclamation plan for Coal Basin. <br /> ASSESSMENT OF SUCCESS OF PRIOR REVEGETATION EFFORTS AT <br /> COAL BASIN <br /> EVALUATION OF 1997 MINE No. 4 STEEP SLOPE REVEGETATION <br /> Based on observations of 8 September 1998, 1 believe that the seedings of <br /> steep slopes at Mine No. 4 have reasonable expectation of proving successful. <br /> The prominence of young plants resulting from the seeding is low as would be <br /> expected in the first year. The road cut areas have reasonable stands that <br /> are relatively easily visible. The road fill outslopes are much more difficult to <br /> see the presence/development of small seedlings. The loose fill is in general a <br /> more difficult place to establish as a seedling because the steepness of slopes <br /> limit the degree to which incident moisture can enter the soil. These sites also <br /> tend not to have snow cover as long in winter. Taken together, these <br /> conditions leave available soil moisture at lower levels than less steeply sloping <br /> locations and rates of plant growth are consequently less. <br /> 5 <br />