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New Horizon Mine <br />Permit: C-1981-008 <br />2016 INTERIM REVEGETATION EVALUATION <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2016 by the New Horizon Mine (New <br />Horizon) to conduct interim vegetation monitoring within selected reclamation units. Monitoring was <br />performed in the interest of ascertaining progress toward revegetation success in general accordance <br />with success standards and in fulfillment of vegetation monitoring requirements for the New Horizon <br />permit. At the time of sampling, revegetation within evaluated units had experienced 2 growing seasons <br />following completion of seeding. In general, revegetation is classified into three types at New Horizon; <br />Irrigated Pasture, Dryland Pasture, and Irrigated Cropland. As stated in the Section 2.05.4(2)(e), Section <br />8.0, reclamation units are evaluated for interim revegetation performance in years 2 and 7 at New <br />Horizon for irrigated pastureland and dryland pasture, and years 2 and 8 for irrigated cropland. It is <br />anticipated that bond release evaluations will occur in years 9 and 10 for irrigated pasture and dryland <br />pasture reclamation and years 8, 9, and 10 for irrigated cropland reclamation. <br />Field sampling for the directly measurable <br />variables of ground cover and production were <br />conducted on all units and associated <br />Reference Areas in 2016. Field efforts from <br />June 1st through 3rd, 2016 were conducted <br />under the direct supervision of Cedar Creek's <br />Senior Reclamation Ecologist and Soil <br />Specialist, Mr. Jesse H. Dillon. The units <br />monitored during the 2016 effort are presented <br />on Table 1 and exhibited on Maps 1, 2, and 3. <br />Methodologies used for the revegetation <br />evaluation are presented in Appendix A, with <br />Raw Data presented in Appendix B. <br />Table 1 - 2016 Interim Vegetation MonitoritUnitsIrrigated <br />Pasture Units <br />Seed'ng Year <br />Rrst Growing #of SacreageSeason <br />Season Cover <br />2014 Spring <br />2014 25.6 15 15 <br />Dryland Pasture Units <br />Seeding Year <br />First Growing # of Samples <br />Acreage <br />Season Cover I Production <br />2014 Spring <br />2014 2.3 5 5 <br />Irrigated Cropland Units <br />Seeding Year <br />First Growing <br />Acreage <br />*of Samples <br />Season <br />Cover Production <br />2014 Spring <br />2014 <br />100 <br />15 15 <br />1 <br />