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1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />This report presents the results of the 2019 (first year) quantitative vegetation sampling in <br />support of a request for Phase III bond release for eligible reclaimed areas within the OMLLC <br />Elk Creek Mine (CDRMS permit C-1981-022) owned by OMLLC. Quantitative vegetative <br />sampling is required by CDRMS whenever a permittee requests a release from liability and/or <br />reclamation bond in Phase III of the final bond release process. Vegetation sampling was <br />performed in compliance with the Regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation <br />Board for Coal Mining Rules 2.04.10 and 4.15.10 at the time of sampling, the requirements of <br />Exhibit 2.05-E6 of the approved reclamation plan, and current botanical and plant ecological <br />methods. Field sampling for the areas monitored was conducted between June 13-15 and June <br />19-26, 2019 by Savage and Savage, Inc. biologists. <br />The Elk Creek Mine site is located in Gunnison and Delta Counties, Colorado, east and west <br />of Somerset, Colorado and north of the North Fork of the Gunnison River and Colorado <br />Highway 133. The underground coal mine began operation in 1901 and entered final <br />reclamation in 2014. The reclaimed areas sampled in this report are located in Delta County <br />and Gunnison County, Colorado; within the permit area and portions of Sections 27-34, T12S, <br />R90 W, 6th PM, parts of Sections 25-27 and 34-36, T12S, R91W, parts of Sections 6 and 7, <br />T13S, R89W, parts of Sections 1-12 and 17, T13S, R90W, and parts of Sections 1-3 and 11- <br />13, T3S, R91 W, all of the 6th Prime Meridian. <br />Reclaimed areas sampled in 2019 were backfilled, graded, best available plant growth medium <br />respread, and revegetated in accordance with the approved mining and reclamation plan. The <br />reclaimed areas sampled this year were formerly mine surface facilities. Reclamation activities <br />took place between 1996 and 2011 for the areas sampled this year, and included backfilling <br />and regrading facilities, replacing plant growth medium, reseeding and mulching, and <br />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 />2019 Phase III Bond Kelease Pre-5MCKA Vegetation Report <br />