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Colowyo Mine <br /> Permit Number: C-1981-019 <br /> 2022 Phase II Bond Release Report <br /> Phase II Evaluation <br /> Revegetation Units: Reference Areas: <br /> EP061 WP028 Mountain Shrub <br /> WP026 WP029 Sagebrush <br /> WP027 WP032 <br /> 1.0 INTRODUCTION <br /> Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2022 by Colowyo Coal Company L.P. <br /> (Colowyo) to evaluate revegetated units for Phase II bond release at the Colowyo Mine. Data collection <br /> was performed in the interest of ascertaining progress toward revegetation success in general accordance <br /> with Rule 3.03, Release of Performance Bonds. The revegetated areas evaluated in 2022 consisted of one <br /> unit within the East Pit, and five units within the West Pit. As these units are in close proximity, they are <br /> being evaluated as one bond release block of 148.4 acres. At the time of sampling, revegetation within <br /> evaluated units had experienced four growing seasons following completion of seeding. In addition, two <br /> reference areas (Mountain Shrub — 1980, Sagebrush — 1981) were sampled to provide cover comparison <br /> values to facilitate an evaluation of success for the reclaimed block. The location of the bond release block <br /> and associated reference areas evaluated in 2022 are indicated on Map 1. <br /> Field sampling for the directly measurable variables of ground cover was systematically conducted <br /> within the designated units from August 2nd through August 55t", 2022. Field efforts were conducted under <br /> the direct supervision of Cedar Creek's Senior Reclamation Ecologist and Soil Specialist, Mr. Jesse H. Dillon. <br /> Raw data tables are presented in Appendix A. Descriptions of vegetation sampling methodologies <br /> utilized in 2022 are presented in the Colowyo permit (Volume 1, section 4.15.11) and in Appendix B. <br /> Photographs from the bond release block and the reference areas are presented in Appendix C. In this <br /> manner, only the most salient information is provided in the main body of this document. Acreages <br /> presented in this document were determined by Colowyo's technical services department. <br /> 3 <br />