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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Quantitative vegetation sampling of the extended reference area and post-SMCRA reclaimed <br />and revegetated sites within the Oxbow Mining LLC (Oxbow) Elk Creek Mine eligible for <br />Phase III bond release was conducted during June and July 2019. Vegetation cover by plant <br />species, total herbaceous production, and species composition data were collected. <br />Comparisons were made between total vegetation cover and total herbaceous production from <br />the reclaimed areas with the applicable values from the extended reference area. Species <br />composition results from the post-SMCRA reclaimed areas were compared with the species <br />composition revegetation success criterion from the Colorado Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining and Safety (CDRMS) permit document. <br />The 2019 mean total vegetation cover in the post-SMCRA reclaimed areas (65.25%) exceeded <br />live herbaceous vegetation cover standard within the extended reference area (9.34%, the sum <br />of graminoid and forb cover). The Elk Creek Mine post-SMCRA reclaimed areas total <br />herbaceous production of 250.51 g/m2 exceeded the final revegetation total herbaceous <br />production success criterion (58.07 g/m2) from the extended reference area. Relative cover <br />data from the post-SMCRA reclaimed areas sampled showed that the reclaimed areas exceeded <br />the species composition final success criterion (a minimum of three perennial or biennial non - <br />noxious species, with two being graminoid and one being a perennial or biennial forb or shrub) <br />with six perennial cool season graminoids and five perennial cool season forbs. <br />Based on the results of the 2019 quantitative vegetation sampling at the post-SMCRA <br />reclaimed areas, it was concluded that the Phase III bond release and revegetation requirements <br />of CDRMS Rule 3.03.1(2) have been satisfied for total vegetation cover, total herbaceous <br />production, and species composition; and that overall the sampling results demonstrate the <br />establishment of a diverse, effective and permanent vegetation community of the same <br />seasonal variety native to the land disturbed. <br />Oxbow Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Page 1 <br />2019 Phase III Bond Kelease Po5t-5MCKA Vegetation Report <br />