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Summary of Annual Weed Management Activities <br /> Introduction <br /> On February 5, 2008, Mesa County approved a Conditional Use Permit ("Permit") for the <br /> Whirlwind Mine ("Mine"). Condition #6 of the Permit requires noxious weed management and <br /> the Addendum on weed control specifies management requirements during mining operations. <br /> Likewise, the September 2008, Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") Decision Record ("DR"), <br /> Attachment B, Compliance and Monitoring, Conditions #11 and #12, and Colorado's Division of <br /> Reclamation, Mining and Safety (the "DRMS") approved permit M-2007-044, Mine Plan <br /> ("Plan"), Exhibit T, require similar weed control practices during active mining operations. <br /> The Mine was in temporary cessation until 2022,when DRMS acknowledged mining had resumed. <br /> Resumption of mining triggered compliance with the Permit, DR, and Plan weed control <br /> requirements.According to the DR,and Permit,during mining operations,weed surveys and weed <br /> control measures are to be implemented along County Road 5/10 as well as in the Mine in areas <br /> that have been impacted by mining. Further, an annual report of the weed survey along with <br /> mitigation measures and practices employed is required to be submitted to Mesa County and the <br /> BLM. The following summarizes weed control activities for 2023. <br /> 1.0 Weed Surveys <br /> Weed surveys are required during active mining operations. Weeds are to be surveyed around the <br /> Mine area(disturbed area inside the fence) and along County Road 5/10 from its intersection with <br /> John Brown Road to the Mine entrance. Surveys are to be performed in the Spring (April or May) <br /> and the Fall (September or October). <br /> 1.1 Spring Survey <br /> Peaceful Valley Irrigation & Landscaping ("Peaceful Valley") conducted the Spring survey, in <br /> May 2023, along County Road 5/10 from its intersection with John Brown Road to the Mine <br /> entrance including the Mine parking area. Peaceful Valley's report (Appendix A) indicates the <br /> noxious weeds found during the survey included bindweed, Kochia weed, common thistles and <br /> Point Locoweed. <br /> Mine personnel did a weed inspection in June 2023, as part of resuming mining activities after <br /> winter break finding less weed species than in 2022. During the inspection various weed were <br /> found. Mine personnel inspected the disturbed area inside the Mine fence focusing on the shop <br /> yard and water treatment plant areas (see map in Appendix B). <br /> 1.2 Fall Survey <br /> Peaceful Valley completed the fall inspection along County Road 5/10 from its intersection with <br /> John Brown Road to the Mine entrance in September 2023. Peaceful Valley reported an overall <br /> decline in weed population. Peaceful Valley's inspection report is in Appendix A. <br /> 1 <br />