2013-04-15_PERMIT FILE - C1994082 (6)

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Upon completion of mining in an area and within the first several years after revegetation activities, revegetation monitoring studies will be conducted. These monitoring studies will provide both the reclamation manager and postmine manager or landowner with an excellent basis for livestock stocking rates, carrying capacities, and overall management of the area both during the bond liability period and after release of the lands. In addition, wildlife managers will have detailed vegetation data documenting habitat and the amount and type of food and cover habitat available. Water resources will be documented. The postmining land uses, achieved through the reclamation and revegetation plans, will thus provide a high level of utility. It will also improve livestock and wildlife forage resources, aid in mitigating impacts to wildlife; ensure the establishment of vegetation that is diverse and self - sustaining, and will provide the components to reestablish native plant communities over time through processes of natural succession. There is a 6.25 acre area in the Yoast permit area, along County Road (CR) 27 (aka Turnout Area), that previously served as dragline deadhead route when a dragline was "walked" from the Seneca II mining area to the Yoast mining area. This area was previously reclaimed according to DRMS and landowner approvals (parking lot and livestock grazing) and was ready for the bond release process. Routt County acquired control of this area in order to construct a round -about to improve public traffic safety between vehicles traveling north and south on CR 27. Within this 6.25 acre area, approximately 1.97 acres was acquired by Routt County as right -of -way for the round -about constructed in 2012. The remaining majority of the permit area west of the right -of -way served as disposal site for excess material excavated during the construction of the round -about through an agreement between Routt County and the landowner. The limited area remaining that is adjacent to the west permit boundary has never been disturbed. Seneca Coal Company requested a land use change from livestock grazing and wildlife habitat to industrial/commercial postmine land use. This area is shown on Exhibit 22 -3, Land Use Change. Routt County Planning Department provided a letter confirming that Routt County acquired a right -of -way in this location and is attached on page 6a.. The landowners provided a letter indicating that they are aware of and are in agreement with the proposed land use change. The letter is attached on page 6b. Reference Areas. The extended reference areas are those undisturbed areas existing between the actual life -of -mine disturbance boundary and the current permit boundary. These undisturbed areas represent sufficient acreages of the native vegetation types to be used in revegetation success evaluations described later in Tab 22. The location and extent of the extended reference area is shown on Exhibit 10 -3, Reference Areas. SCC has established an additional four (4) acre reference area in the SEl /4SE1 /4 of Section 5 T5N, R87W to evaluate revegetation success along the haul road corridor (see Exhibit 10 -3). The four (4) acre reference area for the haul road corridor is representative of the geology (parent material) and soils of the haul road corridor, both of which are dominated by the Binco silty clay loam. Slopes are gentle to moderate in both areas. Although this reference area is outside of the permit area, SCC maintains ownership control of this area and the lands TR -52 6 Revised 04/13