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4.0 RECLAMATION <br />4.1 Reclamation Accomplished to Date <br />Since the Yankee Gulch Project only recently completed construction and began <br />commercial operations, very little reclamation has occurred to date. Only areas <br />temporarily used for construction support were reclaimed during the 2000 - <br />2001 reporting period as the vast majority of disturbed areas are actively in use. <br />Specific areas that were reclaimed during the 2000 - 2001 reporting period <br />included the concrete batch plant area (1.5 acres], the temporary construction <br />lay down and parking area (10.8 acres], and the septic leach field area (0.5 acre) <br />just west of the Piceance Site Processing Pfant. These areas were graded to <br />their approximate pre-construction contour, the topsoil salvaged from these <br />areas was replaced from the nearby topsoil stockpile and the areas were <br />reseeded with the permanent reclamation seed mix described in the project's <br />Reclamation Plan. These areas were also fertilized to enhance re-vegetation. <br />In the well field, temporary roads and clearings used during the construction <br />phase to install piping and other equipment were also reclaimed. These areas <br />were ripped, seeded, fertilized, and barricaded to prevent future access and <br />disturbance by motor vehicles. In addition, topsoil piles associated with well pads <br />and roads were seeded, fertilized, and mulched to temporarily establish <br />vegetative cover and minimize erosion. Similarly, exposed road cuts were seeded <br />and fertilized to temporarily establish vegetative cover and minimize erosion. <br />At the Test Mine facility on the east side of the permit area, revegetation of the <br />side slope of the Test Mine pad has occurred. A variety of grasses and shrubs <br />have been planted and have reestablished successfully. <br />4.2 Reclamation Planned far 2001 - 2002 <br />For the 2001 - 2002 reporting year, American Soda will continue with <br />reclamation activities, where appropriate. However, since the Yankee Gulch <br />Project only recently started commercial operations, virtually all of the presently <br />disturbed areas will remain in active use over the 2001 - 2002 reporting period <br />and only minimal reclamation activities are anticipated. <br />For areas reclaimed during the 2000 - 2001 reporting year, including the <br />construction lay down and parking area, septic leach field, and concrete batch <br />plant area, success of revegetation will be monitored in the future and additional <br />measures, such as fertilizing, watering, and/or reseeding will be carried out as <br />necessary to assure successful reclamation of these areas. <br />American Soda, L.L.P. <br />DMG Annual Report <br />Juty 13. 2001 <br />