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resources from which coal mining is occurring together with all of <br />. attendant socio economic considerations. Energy Fuels currently <br />controls approximately 16,000 acres on or near the mine; extensive <br />ranching and farming are conducted on the lands not involved in the <br />mining activities. Because of the Company's substantial investment and <br />commitment to its land assets, Energy Fuels has a vested interest in the <br />results of reclamation. Energy Fuels is not only concerned with pre- <br />serving land values, but is also committed to finding new and better <br />ways to improve their agricultural and aesthetic values. <br />Reclamation of surface disturbed lands was initiated at the Energy Mine <br />No. 1 in 1965 when the first voluntary agreement with respect to recla- <br />mation was entered into with the State of Colorado. With the cooperation <br />of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, 294 acres of spoils <br />were aerially seeded between 1965 and 1968. Also, during this same <br />period, several thousand shrubs and trees provided by the state nursery <br />were transplanted into the spoils. The preliminary results of recla- <br />mation and revegetation were somewhat promising but were hindered by <br />• herbivores and poor adaptation. These early attempts at reclamation, <br />although not adequate by current standards, provided the foundation for <br />present reclamation and revegetation techniques at Energy Fuels. <br />In 1973, Energy Fuels was required by a new Colorado rbclamation law to <br />level all new spoil ridges; yet, there were no requirements to level or <br />reclaim spoils produced prior to that date. Energy Fuels continued its <br />program to voluntarily reclaim spoil piles created prior to 1973 when <br />the mining operation was under different ownership. This reclamation, <br />although very expensive, has returned approximately two-thirds (nearly <br />1,000 acres) of the pre-1973 spoils to an aesthetically pleasing and <br />productive part of the surrounding ecosystem. Even today, as equipment <br />and manpower is available, Energy Fuels continues to reclaim the re- <br />maining pre-1973 spoils for elk refuge and wildlife habitat. <br />Energy Fuels has always regarded its reclamation program as one of the <br />highest priorities of the mining operation. As early as September of <br />1972, Energy Fuels began salvaging and segregating topsoil for use in <br />-23- <br />