APPCOR10261

• Permit No: C1989074
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 4/25/1989
• Doc Name: PAR FOR RIMROCK COAL CO PERMIT APPLICATION FN C-89-074
• From: MLRD
• To: JIM STEVENS
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

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STATE OF COLORADO
Roy Romer, Governor
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DEPARTMENT OFNATURALRESOURCES
MINED LAND RECLAMATION DIVISION
FRED R. BANTA, Director
DATE: April 25, 1989
T0: Jim Stevens P
FROM: Gregg Squire ~ f\
RE: PAR for Rimrock Coal Company -Permit Application
File No. C-89-074
I have reviewed the vegetation, wildlife and reclamation portions of this
permit application and have the following comments.
1. Vegetation Information - Rule 2.04.10
a. Section 2.04.10(1) requires a vegetation map which delineates plant
communities on the basis of the visually dominant perennial
species. It appears that Map 5 was prepared by using an SCS soils
map and range site descriptions. This map should be checked at the
site to verify its accuracy. Also, woody vegetation communities
have special reclamation requirements under Rule 4.15.8. It is
unclear from Map 5 if any of the sites would be classified as being
woody vegetation communities.
Woody vegetation under the MLRD definition is any vegetation type
in which canopy cover of woody plants is equal to or greater than
15 percent of the total vegetation cover.
b. Section 2.04.10(4) requires that plant communities be described in
terms of species composition, cover, productivity and woody plant
density. The only description given in the application is the
potential plant communities for soil type unit descriptions as
provided by the SCS. These descriptions are not site specific, and
do not provide species composition, cover or woody plant density
information. They also only provide an average annual production
value which may not be representative of this specific site.
In summation, I recommend that a vegetation survey be done on the site
this Sumner to determine the species composition, cover, productivity and
woody plant densiiiy. This study should be done in a manner which meets
statistical sample adequacy requirements. After the study, Map 5 should
be examined and any necessary revisions made to delineate grasslands from
woody plant communities.
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