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PROTECT ABSTRACT <br /> The project area is located within the boundaries of the now inactive Coal Basin Mine. <br /> Coal mining began in the upper reaches of the Coal Creek drainage in the 1390's. A rail <br /> line connected the mining camp with the community of Redstone approximately twelve <br /> miles down stream. Mining operations ,vere discontinued in the early part of this <br /> century, only to resume again on a much larger scale in the mid-1950's. <br /> Mid-Continent Resources and it predecessors operated five underground mines within <br /> Coal Basin from about 1955 until 1990. In the early 1990's, the mine eased o <br /> Mid-Continent Resources filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy prof ctioncand be anrto on. <br /> liquidate its assets. Eventually, the Mining permit was revoked and the Reclamation <br /> Bond forfeited by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. As required by <br /> applicable statute, the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Division of Minerals <br /> and Geology is accomplishing reclamation of the site through the use of funds obtained <br /> from Liquidation Plan. <br /> The primary goal of the project is to control the infestation of thistle and other noxious <br /> weeds within the lower portions of the Coal Basin Mine for the purpose of advancing <br /> the success of reclamation. A total of 60 acres are affected by this project. A total of <br /> 20.8 acres are currently infested, of which 4.5 acres are subject to a land exchange <br /> currently pending between the current landowner and the U.S. Forest Service.Additionally, the Forest Service has expressed an interest in acquiring the remaining 16.3 <br /> acres that are infested through future land exchanges. Regardless, the lands to be <br /> affected by this project are now completely surrounded by National Forest lands. <br /> In order to successfully control the noxious weeds on the project area, there are four <br /> objectives which will need to be accomplished. The objectives will be achieved <br /> sequentially, and will be accomplished over an approximately eighteen month period. <br /> The first objective is to map and delineate specific limits of the project area. The second <br /> objective is to quantitatively define the degree of infestation at specific, representative <br /> sites within the project area. These areas will act as reference areas in order to measure <br /> the degree of infestation and the success of the treatment program. Following this step, <br /> treatment within the project area will be accomplished. The fourth objective is to re- <br /> sample the reference areas in order to measure success. As the need arises, additional <br /> treatment and measurement will occur. <br /> In conducting this project over a two year period, the success of the first year of <br /> treatment will be measured with follow up treatment to occur in infested areas the <br /> second year. This two year approach, which may consist of tw10 treatments annually, in <br /> addition to the continued long-term monitoring of the area, will ensure that the noxious <br /> weeds are under control, and eliminated to the greatest degree possible. <br /> The control of noxious weeds is essential in establishing an effective, diverse and long <br /> lasting vegetative cover at the site and this project is integral to the success of current <br /> reclamation efforts being conducted at this site. The successful treatment of noxious <br /> weeds in the project area will ultimately minimize the risk of weeds spreadingto <br /> adjacent Forest Service lands and other county jurisdictions as well. <br />