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the reclamation. By 1974, removal of topsoil prior to mining was • commonplace at the Energy Fuels' operations. Colorado statutes re- quiring topsoil salvage did not even exist until 1976. Presently, Energy Fuels is utilizing ten Caterpillar 657 Scrapers to remove top- soil. In October of 1979, two Fiat-Allis 263-B Elevating Scrapers (23- cubic yard heaped will arrive to provide additional topsoil handling and clean-up capability. Beginning in January of 1976, Energy Fuels experimented with a front-end loader to transplant aspen and other native vegetation from ahead of the mining back to reclaimed areas. In 1977 Energy Fuels permanently assigned a front-end loader to transplant aspen, scrub oak trees, and other native shrubs. Since inception of the transplanting, over 200,000 aspen trees have been transplanted. The present survival rate of the trans- plants is in excess of 90%. During the past three years, over 65,000 bare-root and containerized shrubs and trees have been hand-transplanted into the reclaimed tracts • at Energy Mines No. 1, 2, and 3. Each spring Energy Fuels employs hundreds of school-age youngsters from various groups such as Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, 4-H Clubs, church organizations and school clubs for planting these bare-root and containerized stock. Based on the number of youngsters working, Energy Fuels donates money to the indi- vidual organizations for their assistance in this worth-while reclama- tion work. Since snowfall frequently exceeds 200 ir.c~es per year in the vicinity of the mining operations, deer and elk must migrate out of the high country to the south-facing slopes of the lower country for browse and forage. A large herd of approximately 200 deer and elk has chosen to remain and feed near the mine site. Energy Fuels, with guidance from the Colorado Game and Fish Commission, provides, at times, a supple- mental feeding program to sustain th? herd during severe winter monthe. Energy Fuels also works clcsely with numerous governmental agencies • involved in research dedicated to the improvement cf reclamation and -24-