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Mergen Ecological Delineations, Inc. <br /> <br />1835 Parkview Boulevard 514 Green Street <br />Colorado Springs, Colorado80905 Lead, South Dakota57754 <br /> <br />office/cell (719)459-1280, home (719)632-2418 <br />e-mail: dmergen@botanysurveys.com <br />website: www.botanysurveys.com <br />February 23, 2015 <br /> <br />Mr. Rob Zuber, Reclamation Specialist <br />Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining & Safety <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br />Permit: Energy Fuels Coal, Inc. Permit number: C-81-014. <br /> <br />RE: Technical Revision No. 45 (TR-45) Request <br /> <br />Dear Mr. Zuber, <br />This letter is to express support for the Technical Revision No. 45 Request, dated February 2, <br />2015. In addition, we (members of the Corley Family and myself) are familiar with the <br />reclamation of lands on the Corley property, near the Energy Fuels, Inc. portal area, and are <br />satisfied with the reclamation success on about 12 acres of the Corley property. <br /> <br />I have monitored the vegetation cover growing on this portion of the 12 acres from 2004-2013. <br />Over that 10 year period vegetation cover has fluctuated among years, but this fluctuation is <br />closely associated with monthly precipitation totals recorded in Canon City, Colorado (closest <br />weather station with available data). Species diversity includes both warm and cool season <br />grasses, a few forbs, and abundant shrubs, primarily rabbitbrush. Forage biomass collected in <br />2013 and 2014 probably exceeds the amount of production collected from other areas on the <br />Corley property that are located near the same elevation and in similar grassland/shrubland <br />habitats as the reclaimed land. <br /> <br />The reclaimed area of the Corley property is considered to be adequate for post mining purposes <br />(livestock grazing and wildlife habitat). The 12 acres and the adjacent reclaimed land has been <br />providing wildlife habitat frequently used by deer and elk; many other mammals, birds, and <br />reptiles have been observed within this area as well. <br /> <br />We support the request for a Technical Revision of the vegetation standards and have come to <br />the conclusion that the reclamation efforts by Energy Fuels, Inc. have met or exceeded our <br />expectations for the land near the portal area of the Corley property. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br /> <br />Daryl E. Mergen Ph.D. <br />Plant Ecologist <br /> <br />