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Coors Energy Company: Keenesburg Mine Permit No. C-81-028 <br />2016 Fourth Quarter Pest & Disease Inspection <br />On October 12, 2016 Wayne Erickson (Habitat Management, Inc). inspected operational, <br />bonded reclaimed and shop areas at the Keenesburg Mine for plant pests, plant diseases <br />and noxious weeds that could or have affected establishment of vegetation on reclaimed <br />lands. The inspection was conducted by vehicular and pedestrian means. The following <br />areas were inspected: <br />• The office/shop/facility area; <br />• Topsoil stockpiles A-1 and B-1; <br />• B pit; <br />• The long-term spoil area; <br />• Bonded Reclamation; <br />• The permanent sediment ponds; <br />• Mine roads; <br />• Undisturbed land within the permit boundary; <br />• and <br />• The Dugout. <br />These areas are depicted on Map 1. <br />Plant disease was not identified within the areas inspected. To date vegetation growth <br />during this growing season is progressing normally and vegetation has not been <br />adversely affected by plant pests. Areas affected by infestation or blight were not <br />identified during this inspection. No areas were observed where noxious weeds, plant <br />pests or plant disease had adversely impacted the normal growth and establishment of <br />vegetation on reclaimed lands, with the exception of scattered cheatgrass infestations in <br />Areas 29, 30 and 31. Cheatgrass is also present in patches on the topsand stockpiles south <br />of the shop. <br />Ongoing vegetation monitoring has identified cheatgrass as a potential barrier to <br />successful revegetation of disturbed areas. The mine performed pre -emergent herbicide <br />treatments on cheatgrass in the fall of 2015 in reclamation units 29 and 30. Mine <br />personnel continue to closely monitor areas with significant cheatgrass infestations. <br />During this inspection Canadian thistle was observed growing in two previously <br />unidentified locations adjacent to the sediment ponds. One location is about two thirds <br />of the way down from the north end on the west side of the dugout pond. This patch is <br />growing on the embankment among the cottonwood trees. The other patch is growing <br />just east of the southwest corner of sediment pond 2. This patch is also growing on the <br />embankment among the cottonwood trees. Treating these patches this fall should be <br />considered to minimize their potential to spread. <br />Habitat Management, Inc. 1 October 12, 2016 <br />