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INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM <br />TO: <br />ROB ZUBER <br />FROM: <br />JANET BINNS <br />SUBJECT: <br />MARR MINE C1980 -006, SL5 REVEGETATION REVIEW <br />DATE: <br />6/11/2013 <br />CC: <br />Kerr coal Company submitted an application for final bond release for all remaining areas of the <br />Marr Mine Permit on November 5, 2012. The remaining areas included in the bond release include <br />a 4 acre parcel located south and east of the former mine shop, a 4 acre parcel located in the area of <br />the reclaimed explosives storage area (powder magazine), approximately 9 acres consisting of the <br />permanent mine access road, and approximately 11.7 acres at the tipple. The tipple pond was <br />reclaimed in 2011 and seeded in the spring of 2012. The reclaimed pond is not subject to the 10- <br />year liability period, but needs to meet the requirements of 3.03.1(5). <br />For reclamation success determination the reclaimed parcels located at the mine site were <br />compared to the approved Alkali Sagebrush reference area located north of the permit area, as well <br />as a numeric standard. The reclaimed parcel at the tipple was compared to the tipple reference area <br />located south of the tipple, as well as a numeric standard. Reclamation success parameters <br />determined by comparison of the respective reference areas include total vegetative cover and <br />herbaceous productivity. The forage quality index is determined by assigning palatability values to <br />the herbaceous plant species encountered in the total vegetative cover sample for the reference areas. <br />The forage quality index is used to determine suitable vegetative diversity. Woody plant density <br />success is determined by comparison of the reclaimed parcel woody stem density value to a numeric <br />standard. <br />Both the tipple reclamation parcel and the two reclamation parcels at the mine site were found to <br />meet or exceed all reclamation success criteria for phase III bond release. The reference areas, two <br />parcels at the mine area, and the reclaimed tipple area were sampled for vegetation success <br />parameters in 2009 and 2010. The reference areas and the reclaimed areas were sampled in <br />accordance with the approved methods. <br />Total vegetative cover measured in 2009 on the Alkali Sagebrush reference area was 32.13 <br />percent. The Alkali Sagebrush reference area was sampled to statistical adequacy. The two <br />reclamation areas at the mine, east side of shop area and explosives storage area, were sampled as <br />one parcel. Both area were seeded in 1999 with the same seed mix and have similar aspect and <br />elevation. Total plant cover measured in 2009 on the reclaimed mine area parcel was 33.94 percent. <br />The reclaimed mine parcel was sampled to adequacy. Total herbaceous cover on the reclaimed area <br />exceeded the cover measured on the reference area. The reclaimed mine parcel is successful for <br />cover for the 2009 sample. <br />