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Metcel VMF, Weedone LV6, and Activator 90. Spot spraying was conducted from June through August, and
<br />covered a total of approximately 30 acres.
<br />Areas treated included, but were not limited to:
<br />- Roadsides (main entry road, roads on the plateau area north and west of the road leading to the 7 -North
<br />Angle Well, and portions of the main entry roads in both the east and west mine facilities areas)
<br />- Refuse Pile area
<br />- No. 9 Mine Shop area
<br />- Areas in and surrounding the west Mine Facilities area (i.e. Water Treatment Ponds, Office/Warehouse,
<br />Bathhouse, Coal Handling Facilities, Railroad Spur, Wastewater Treatment areas, and yard areas)
<br />- The open meadow to the north of the reclaimed Mine No. 4 portals
<br />- Recently reclaimed areas
<br />- The southern portion of the reclaimed Williams Fork Strip Pit
<br />- Mine substations (Glystar)
<br />In order to address practical finding limitations relative to ongoing site maintenance, and with the objective of
<br />enhancing the condition of selected rangelands within the Permit Area (undisturbed - Williams Fork bottom, the
<br />plateau area south of the 7 -North Angle Well, and the hillside to the east and south of the old highway, and in the
<br />future, bond release areas), MCM contracted with a local rancher (Jake Timmer). The Agricultural Use Agreement
<br />addresses ongoing weed and rodent control, tillage, and selective seeding and harvest of beneficial nitrogen -fixing
<br />and grain crops, in return for the revenues from the resulting grain and hay crops and the ability to use the selected
<br />areas for limited late -season grazing. These activities were initiated in 2015, and will carry -forward for several
<br />years under the existing agreement.
<br />As a result of a due diligence effort associated with a potential asset transfer, the decision was made to evaluate and
<br />clean-up a historic dump site that is within the Permit Area, but is not associated with the current permitted mining
<br />and related activities. The MCM staff, in cooperation with NorWest Corporation consultants, completed site
<br />reconnaissance surveys and materials sampling and analyses for the dump area, and then developed and
<br />implemented plans to clean-up and dispose of trash, debris, and other materials in the dump area, and to stabilize
<br />effected access and clean-up areas. A contractor established access into the dump area and removed old vehicles,
<br />metal, rubber, and other debris, and removed several partially full barrels or drums to a lined pit in a staging area.
<br />The materials and debris were transported off-site to salvage or licensed landfill facilities, and liquids were
<br />collected and disposed of by licensed disposal contractor. Once the clean-up was completed, disturbed areas were
<br />regraded and stabilized, erosion control materials (wattles) were placed to minimize runoff and control sediment.
<br />and the disturbed areas were reseeded. A Minor Revision (MR15-54), providing documentation of the clean-up
<br />activities in the PAP was submitted and approved by the CDRMS.
<br />MCM contracted with ESCO Associates and their successor, Cedar Creek Associates, to complete supplemental
<br />revegetation success sampling, consistent with applicable permit requirements, and in support of a pending bond
<br />release application. Areas included in the sampling effort included; Utah Tract (pre- and post -law), Williams Fork
<br />Strip Pit (pre- and post -law), No. 5 Mine Portal Area, No. 9 Mine Portal, Shop and Refuse Pile Areas, other
<br />miscellaneous reclaimed areas (Bathhouse and Office Area, Brazell -Simms Building, and Reclamation Storage
<br />Building). Revegetation success sampling was conducted in 2014 and 2015, and receipt of the final sampling
<br />report is expected during second quarter 2016. If the sampling results are supportive, as anticipated, MCM plans to
<br />re -submit a bond release application for the subject areas.
<br />During 2013 MCM cooperated with the CDRMS-AML Group on a drilling program to delineate and characterize
<br />the existing Wise Hill Mine Fire. MCM provided maps and historical background information on the geology,
<br />previous mining activity, and previous fire mitigation efforts, and coordinated training, access, and provision of
<br />water for the drilling activities with Tara Taffy of the AML Group. In order to provide relevant background
<br />information, and clearly establish the historic pre -law context for the ongoing Wise Hill AML activities, MCM
<br />completed and submitted a Minor Revision (MR13-50) to the approved permit which incorporates this relevant
<br />information in the current PAP. During June 2014, the CDRMS-AML Group coordinated some additional
<br />exploratory drilling and then made a joint site visit in the fall with personnel from the OSMRE. During 2015, a
<br />contractor for the AML program completed an extensive drilling program which involved upgrades to the existing
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