Laserfiche WebLink
2012 Reclamation Report <br />Southfield Mine <br />EFCI has revegetated a cumulative total of approximately 82.1 acres at the Mine Site and <br />Loadout areas as shown on the attached Annual Reclamation Report form. Maps accompanying <br />this report show all revegetated areas, with the exception of approximately 1.5 acres of minor <br />road segments revegetated in 2003 at the North Well and Corley Well areas. <br />The previously revegetated areas are shown on Map 1, Mine Site Reclamation; Map 2, Ancillary <br />Facility Areas Reclamation and Map 3, Loadout Area Reclamation. As previously stated during <br />2006, Mr. Kent Crofts of I.M.E., Inc., did the interim revegetation sampling and reporting at the <br />mine site, the refuse pile area and at the Loadout site. Map 1 shows areas of the contemporaneous <br />reclamation plots listing dates of seeding and the approximate acreage of each area. <br />According to the conclusion of the I.M.E. report and as had previously been recommended by the <br />Division, 15 cover transects, 30 production transect and 30 shrub density transects were sampled <br />on each reclaimed site. Comparisons of the various revegetation data required are well detailed in <br />IME's 2006 Monitoring Report. It is IME's opinion that based on their 2006 interim monitoring <br />with respect to woody plant density for the mine portal area and the warm season species <br />diversity, the existing Permit Revegetation Success Standards should be revised due to <br />inconsistency of the sites for comparing vegetation. <br />In response to the above concern, EFCI submitted Technical Revision No.39 (TR -39) requesting <br />approval to relocate the respective Vegetation Reference Area to an adjacent area on the north <br />side of the mine portal area that offers more compatible aspects with the mine portal area. TR -39 <br />was under review with the Division throughout the reporting period of 2012. <br />Revegetation Monitoring & Sampling <br />EFCI was scheduled to monitor and collect samples of the vegetation during 2012 which is Year <br />9 of the Ten Year Reclamation Liability Period. However, given the drought conditions <br />experienced during the previous and current year as stated above, EFCI requested approval from <br />the Division, via a letter (USPS) dated July 30, 2012, to postpone the revegetation study until the <br />following year. The Division approved the request and the vegetation study was postponed until <br />2013. <br />Weed Control Activities <br />In 2005, one small plot of Knappweed had been identified adjacent to and at the west edge of the <br />parking lot site in the eastern portion adjacent to County Road 92 on the Vento property. The <br />agent with the Fremont County Weed control Agency sprayed the Knappweed with the certified <br />herbicide during 2005 and again in the 2006 season. During 2007, given the heavy vegetation <br />growth in the region that season and the resulting demand on the county weed control agency, the <br />agency had insufficient time to treat the Knappweed at Southfield. Consequently, EFCI pulled and <br />disposed of many of the Knappweed at the mine site. <br />6 <br />