2013-02-27_REPORT - C1981028 (12)

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1.0 INTRODUCTION This report presents the results of the annual revegetation monitoring and pest and disease inspections for the Keenesburg Mine (CDRMS permit C -1981 -028) owned by Coors Energy Company (CEC). Quantitative information in this report addresses the vegetative condition of Reclamation Areas 23, 29, 30, and 31 revegetated between 2002 and 2009 at the mine. Vegetative sampling is required by CDRMS as part of ongoing reclamation monitoring. Vegetation sampling was performed in compliance with Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board Surface Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15 at the time of sampling and current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field sampling for the areas monitored was conducted between August 7 and 13, 2012 by Savage and Savage, Inc. biologists. The Keenesburg Mine is located in Weld County, Colorado, approximately seven (7) miles north of Keenesburg, Colorado and is accessed by Weld County Road 59. CEC operated the Keenesburg Mine for coal extraction from 1980 to 1988. Reclaimed areas sampled in 2012 were backfilled, graded, topsoiled and revegetated in accordance with the approved CDRMS mining and reclamation plan. The revegetation standards used to evaluate these areas are those currently in effect under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34 -33 -101 et sec]) and the Keenesburg Mining and Reclamation Permit (C- 1981 -028). 2.0 METHODS 2.1 SAMPLING DESIGN Prior to initiation of fieldwork, the permit document and applicable maps were reviewed to evaluate topography, reclamation timing, seed mixes, revegetation methods, management, and applicable revegetation standards. Numerical designations were assigned to the reclamation areas to eliminate confusion and facilitate future discussions in 2002. The numbers assigned to reclamation areas are depicted on the Vegetation /Revegetation Map in the permit document. Only those areas currently revegetated were assigned numbers, starting in the northeast corner of the permit area and proceeding clockwise through the site. As additional areas are reclaimed and revegetated they are assigned numbers. A map of the mine site at 1:2400 scale (1".200') was used to delineate the revegetated areas (Coors Site Plan; Vegetation Sampling Locations). On a gridded overlay of the revegetation map, a Cartesian coordinate grid (50x50 feet) was established. Computer generated random numbers were used to establish a pool of x,y coordinates. Reclamation Area 23 contains 0.66 acres and was revegetated in 2002. Reclamation Area 29 comprises 8.1 acres reseeded in 2003. Reclamation Area 30 contains 9.68 acres revegetated in 2006. Reclamation Area 31 contains 11.92 acres revegetated in 2009. In Reclamation Areas 29, 30, and 31; ten vegetation cover transects and 15 total herbaceous production plots were quantitatively sampled in each reclamation area in 2012. Given the Coors Energy Company Keenesburg Mine Page 7 2012 Revegetation Monitoring Report