Laserfiche WebLink
INTRODUCTION <br />Quantitative sampling of reclaimed and reference areas at Seneca Coal Company (SCC) Seneca IIW Mine <br />was undertaken in 2011 and 2012 by ESCO Associates for formal testing of Revegetation Success in <br />application for Phase III 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 submitted <br />by SCC to Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (ESCO 2005b). <br />METHODS <br />Phase Ill Bond Release Block 1 Sampling <br />The 362.25 acres of the 2011 -2012 Bond Release Block (BRB) 1 was assembled from reclamation parcels <br />seeded from 1990 to 2002. BRB -1 includes land reclaimed between September 22, 1981 and December <br />31, 1994 (subject to provisions of the Colorado Permanent Regulatory Program). Sample areas and <br />locations are shown on Map 1, "2011 Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Phase III BRB -1" and Map 3, "2012 <br />Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Phase III BRB -1." <br />Reference Area Sampling <br />The Aspen, Mountain Brush, Sagebrush, Steep Mountain Brush and Western Wheatgrass /Alkali <br />Sagebrush Extended Reference Areas were sampled to provide cover and production data for comparison <br />with reclaimed area data. Reference Area sampling locations are shown on Map 2, "2011 Vegetation <br />Monitoring Locations - Reference Areas" and Map 4, "2012 Vegetation Monitoring Locations - Reference <br />Areas." <br />1 <br />