2019-09-16_REVISION - M1994117 (2)

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EXHIBIT A RECLAMATION PLAN FOR THE GOLD HILL MILL TAILINGS POND The mill tailings consist of compacted, fine-grained, light-colored, siliceous, sandy material that has very few of the essential chemical elements or physical properties needed for plant growth. Therefore, special reclamation techniques will be employed to establish a permanent, self- sustaining,and diverse cover of vegetation on the land surface affected by the impoundment of the mill tailings. Because the tailings retention structure will have three sloping sides and a relatively flat surface, the species selection, site preparation, and planting methods for these two areas will address their different physical characteristics. The tailings impoundment area will be reclaimed in a manner that establishes a growth of trees and low shrubs along with a cover of native grasses over the tailings embankment, and a meadow of grasses and scattered trees and shrubs on the flat surface of the former tailings pond. The revegetation part of the Reclamation Plan for the tailings impoundment area will be implemented over a period of several years and will involve four separate phases. These four phases have been planned to coincide with the physical stabilization and consolidation of the mill tailings, which will depend on the rate of the tailings deposition. The first phase will be centered around field tests; the second phase will be concentrate on establishing a cover of stabilizing vegetation on the sloping sides of the tailings embankment; the third phase will focus on developing an effective growth of grasses on the former tailings pond; and the fourth phase will be directed towards creating a diverse cover of trees and shrubs on the reclaimed tailings pond. Within two years of the commencement of sustained milling operations, the first phase of the Reclamation Plan will be started. A field test site will be developed below the lowest area of the mill building. Field tests will be conducted on consolidated mill tailings to determine the best soil conditions for establishing vegetation, and to assist in selecting the proper grass species for revegetating the tailings retention area. These field tests will provide useful information regarding soil amendments, seed mixtures, and grass yields at this elevation during a two year study period under actual climatic conditions. The second stage of the Reclamation Plan will be the revegetation of the tailings embankment. It will commence during the first year after tailings deposition has finally ended. Between 30 and 40 Ponderosa pine and Aspen trees ranging in height from 3 to 6 feet will be planted along the southeastern face of the embankment. Approximately 40 shrubs will be planted between the trees. These shrubs will be Serviceberry, Common Gooseberry and Kinnikinnick. Native species, either collected from the area or purchased from a nursery, will be transplanted at the reclamation site. The third phase of the Reclamation Plan for the tailings impoundment area that will be implemented is the revegetation of the tailings pond. Since the tailings pond will be the last part of the tailings retention structure to consolidate, the revegetation of this area will begin at a later date than the three sloping sides of the tailings embankment. During this period of tailings consolidation, a wood fiber mulch will be applied to the dried areas on the top of the tailings retention structure to prevent water erosion and to control dust. The revegetation of the tailings 10