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Colowyo Coal Company, L.P. <br />COLOWYO MINE <br />2013-2014 PHASE III BOND RELEASE EVALUATION <br />REVEGETATION UNITS <br />IN PHASE III SAMPLING: <br />EP036 <br />EP041 WP008 <br />EP037 <br />EP042 WP009 <br />EP038 <br />EP043 WP011 <br />EP039 <br />EP044 <br />EP040 <br />EP038 <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />REFERENCE AREAS: <br />MOUNTAIN SHRUB <br />SAGEBRUSH <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2013 and 2014 by Colowyo Coal <br />Company to evaluate revegetated units for Phase III bond release at the Colowyo Mine (Colowyo). Units <br />included in this Phase III evaluation were established and reclaimed between 2000 and 2003. Sampling <br />was performed in the interest of ascertaining progress toward revegetation success in general accordance <br />with Section 2.05.4 of the permit. Revegetated areas evaluated in 2013 and 2014 consisted of 12 units <br />comprising 202.4 acres in East Pit and West Pit. In addition, two reference areas (Mountain Shrub and <br />Sagebrush) were sampled to provide cover and production comparison values to facilitate an evaluation <br />of success for the reclaimed units. Phase III bond release data analysis and presentation by Cedar Creek <br />occurred using standards for the post -mining land use subcomponent of grazing land. Sample points and <br />shrub areas evaluated in 2013 and 2014 for Phase III bond release and associated reference areas are <br />indicated on Maps 1 through 8. <br />Field sampling for the directly measurable variables of ground cover, <br />production, and woody plant density was systematically conducted from <br />August 5th through August 9th, 2013 and August 18th through August 22nd, <br />2014. Sampling occurred immediately following the peak of growth in late <br />July and early August. Field efforts in 2013 and 2014 were conducted by or <br />under the direct supervision of Cedar Creek's Senior Reclamation Ecologist and <br />Soil Specialist, Mr. Jesse H. Dillon. The methodology utilized for these <br />investigations is presented in Section 2.0 of this document, whereas, Section <br />3.0 provides results and discussion. Raw data tables are presented in <br />Appendix A. <br />July 2015 Page 1 <br />Unit <br />First <br />Growing <br />Season <br />Acres <br />EP036 <br />2001 <br />67.80 <br />EP037 <br />2003 <br />21.68 <br />EP038 <br />2002 <br />4.08 <br />EP039 <br />2004 <br />4.10 <br />EP040 <br />2004 <br />10.30 <br />EP041 <br />2004 <br />23.25 <br />EP042 <br />2003 <br />20.50 <br />EP043 <br />2003 <br />13.70 <br />EP044 <br />2004 <br />24.64 <br />WP008 <br />2001 <br />0.50 <br />WP009 <br />2002 <br />10.10 <br />WPM <br />2002 <br />1.70 <br />202.4 <br />