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August 6, 2015 C-1981-019/Colowyo Coal Mine JHB <br />Inspection Topic Summary <br />NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA Not Applicable <br />N - Air Resource Protection <br />N <br />N - Availability of Records <br />R <br />N - Backfill & Grading <br />R <br />N - Excess Spoil and Dev. Waste <br />N <br />N - Explosives <br />N <br />R - Fish & Wildlife <br />N <br />N - Hydrologic Balance <br />N <br />Y - Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan <br />N <br />N - Other <br />N <br />N - Processing Waste <br />R <br />- Roads <br />- Reclamation Success <br />- Revegetation <br />- Subsidence <br />- Slides and Other Damage <br />- Support Facilities On-site <br />- Signs and Markers <br />- Support Facilities Not On-site <br />- Special Categories Of Mining <br />- Topsoil <br />COMMENTS <br />This was a partial inspection conducted by Janet Binns of DRMS. Kurt Blunt of Colowyo Coal Company <br />accompanied the inspection. The focus of this inspection was to observe vegetation sampling conducted by a <br />consultant at reclaimed areas of the Colowyo Mine. The weater was warm, dry and windy. <br />FISH and WILDLIFE — Rule 4.18: <br />A small herd of Pronghorn approached the vehicle as the inspection progressed to the East Pit, parcel <br />EP058. <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br />The focus of this inspection was to observe vegetation sampling crews conduct vegetation data collection. <br />Colowyo Coal Company had contracted with a consultant, Cedar Creek Associates to conduct interim vegetation <br />monitoring in accordance with permit requirements. <br />At the time of the inspection, CCC did not anticipate collecting vegetation data in 2015 with the intent of submittal <br />with a bond release application. As such, reference areas were not planned to be sampled in 2015. <br />The inspection began in the X -pod, Tall Shrub study area. Shrub survival in the study area was counted. The <br />crew took a census of the live shrubs in the transplanted rows. If woody plants had established outside of the <br />transplanted rows, those individuals would be counted in the woody plant belt transects if a randomly located <br />transect fell within the study plot. A description of the Tall Shrub study is found in Permit section 4.15. Sampling <br />methodology is also described in Section 4.15. Vegetation sampling was conducted in accordance with the permit <br />description. <br />Shrub survival in the deep (48") soil plots is minimal. The deeper soil plots appeared to favor grass and noxious <br />weed establishment. Musk thistle were plentiful in the Tall shrub study plot. Shrub survival in the 4 inch topsoil <br />treatment was good. Shrub species observed still alive in the 4 inch soil treatment area included; Amelanchier <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 2 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 0 <br />Page 2 of 7 <br />