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Evaluation Parameter <br />Phase Ill BRB -5 <br />Reference Areas <br />Quantitative Cover Sampling <br />Min. 15 samples <br />(and to adequacy *) <br />Min. 15 samples * <br />Quantitative Production <br />Sampling <br />Min. 30 samples * <br />Min. 30 samples <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling <br />— Background <br />Min. 30 samples * <br />NA <br />Woody Plant Density Sampling <br />— Concentration Areas <br />Min. 50 samples * <br />NA <br />Species Density Sampling <br />Min. 15 samples <br />Min. 15 samples <br />Success Demonstration <br />Approach <br />Hypoth. Testing for cover, production <br />and woody plant density <br />3 of 4 specified tests for species <br />diversity <br />NA <br />INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed and reference areas at Seneca Coal Company (SCC) Seneca II Mine <br />was undertaken in 2011 and 2012 by ESCO Associates for formal testing of Revegetation Success in <br />application for Phase Ill Bond Release. The present report constitutes data from both of the required two <br />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 Ill Bond Release Block (BRB) 5 Sampling <br />The 269.3 acre block referred to here as BRB -5 comprises the entirety of the Seneca II permit area. This <br />block includes land reclaimed between 1988 and 2003 (subject to provisions of the Colorado Permanent <br />Regulatory Program). Sample area locations are shown on Map 1, "2011 Vegetation Monitoring <br />Locations - Phase Ill BRB -5" and Map 3, "2012 Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Phase Ill BRB -5." <br />Reference Area Sampling <br />As per provisions of the Seneca II permit, designated Mountain Brush and Sagebrush Reference Areas <br />were sampled to provide cover and production data for comparison with reclaimed area data as per <br />permit provisions. Reference Area sampling locations are shown on Map 2, "2011 Vegetation Monitoring <br />Locations - Mountain Brush and Sagebrush Reference Areas" and Map 4, "2012 Vegetation Monitoring <br />Locations - Mountain Brush and Sagebrush Reference Areas." <br />Summary of Sampling Design <br />* Or to fifty samples or use of upper 90% confidence limit after 15 samples <br />1 <br />