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1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />This report presents the results of the 2020 quantitative vegetation sampling in support of a <br />request for Phase II bond release for eligible reclaimed areas within the Oxbow Elk Creek <br />Mine (CDRMS permit C-1981-022) owned and operated by Oxbow. Quantitative vegetative <br />sampling is required by CDRMS whenever a permittee requests a release from liability and/or <br />reclamation bond in Phase II of the bond release process. Vegetation sampling was performed <br />in compliance with the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal <br />Mining Rules 2.04. 10 and 4.15 at the time of sampling, the requirements of Exhibit 2.05-E6 <br />of the approved reclamation plan, and current botanical and plant ecological methods. Field <br />sampling for the areas monitored was conducted between June 15 and 28, 2020 by Savage and <br />Savage, Inc. biologists. <br />The Elk Creek Mine site is located in Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado, north of <br />Somerset, Colorado and the North Fork of the Gunnison River. The underground coal mine <br />began operation in 1901 and commenced final reclamation in 2014. The reclaimed areas <br />sampled in this report are located in Delta and Gunnison Counties, Colorado; within portions <br />of the mine permit area that encompasses Sections 27-34, T12S, R90 W, 6th PM, parts of <br />Sections 25-27 and 34-36, T12S, R91W, parts of Sections 6 and 7, T13S, R89W, parts of <br />Sections 1-12 and 17, T13S, R90W, and parts of Sections 1-3 and 11-13, T3 S, R91 W, all of <br />the 6th Prime Meridian. <br />Reclaimed areas sampled in 2020 were backfilled, graded, topsoiled, and revegetated in <br />accordance with the approved mining and reclamation plan. The reclaimed areas sampled this <br />year were formerly drill sites and access roads and ancillary surface disturbances constructed <br />for coal exploration and mine ventilation. Reclamation activities took place between 2015 and <br />2017 for the areas sampled this year, and included plugging of drill holes, backfilling and <br />regrading surface disturbances, drill sites and roads, replacing topsoil, reseeding and mulching, <br />and installing erosion control materials. <br />The revegetation standards used to evaluate these areas are those currently in effect under the <br />Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act (CRS 34-33-101 et seq) and the Elk Creek <br />Mining and Reclamation Permit (C-1981-022), found in Exhibit 2.05-E6. <br />Oxbow Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 2 <br />2020 Phase 11 Bond Release Vegetation Report <br />