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1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -START OF ACTIVE OPERATIONS The following Annual Report addresses American Soda's Yankee Gulch Sodium Minerals Project, located in Rio Blanco County, Colorado. In accordance with C.R.S. 34-32-116(3J(a), the Annual Report provides a summary of the surface disturbance and reclamation performed during the current reporting period from July 13, 2000 to July 12, 2001 (2000 - 2001), as well as planned disturbance and reclamation for the next reporting period from July 13, 2001 -July 12, 2002 (2001 - 2002). Activities at the Yankee Gulch Project during the reporting period were conducted under the regulatory guidance and inspection oversight of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (DMG] under Permit No. M-99-002. The 2000 - 2001 reporting period was highlighted by the start up of commercial operations for the Yankee Gulch Project. Construction of the project was completed in early October 2000. The start of active mining operations occurred immediately thereafter on October 9, 2000. With start up, American Soda began the solution mining process of circulating heated water through the well field to extract nahcolite. Over the course of the reporting period since start up, the nahcolite extraction rate has gradually increased as the solution mining cavities have grown over time. American Soda began shipping finished soda ash and sodium bicarbonate products from its Parachute Processing Operation in late-November 2000. As part of this Annual Report, American Soda has prepared maps identifying areas where disturbance has occurred during the report period. Figure 1 provides a general location map of the American Soda Piceance Site Mining Operation. Figure 2 provides a detailed map of the Piceance Site Processing Facility and its surroundings. Figure 3 provides a detailed map of the 0 - 5 year mining panel, where the majority of surface disturbance has occurred to date. Figure 3 also identifies American Soda's Pilot Plant Area, which was developed in 1997. Section 2.0 of this report addresses permit modifications for the Yankee Gulch Project during the 2000 - 2001 permit period. Section 3.0 addresses the status of American Soda's project operations, including the extent of current disturbances and additional disturbance planned for 2001 - 2002. Finally, Section 4.0 describes reclamation that has occurred to date and is planned far the 2001 - 2002 reporting period. American Soda, L.L.P. ] DMG Annual Report July 13, 2001