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Aspen Test Plot During the fall of 2004, 400 selected aspen trees were planted according to the M plan and timetable included in the Seneca II-W permit document The study continued to examined growth, survival, and water status during the 2006 growing season. The 2006 aspen study report, will be submitted as a sepazate document when received from the US Forest Service. • Monitoring ESCO Associates, Inc conducted revegetation monitoring of permanently revegetated areas and shmb establishment monitoring in the shrub plot areas during the summer and fall of 2006. The 2006 Annual Revegetation Monitoring report is submitted as a separate document. • Weed Control Survey for noxious weeds was carried out on the II-W Mine permit area in 2006. Monitoring was conducted in 2006 to determine the need of level of re-treatment necessary for areas sprayed in 2005. Canada thistle was the primary target species in all control azeas, with lesser activity duetted towards areas of hounds tongue and whitetop. The applied herbicide consisted of a tuck min of 2a gallons of 23Ii Tordon utd 3.S gallons of 2,4,D utd 3S0 gallons of water. Escort at the rtte of one (1) oz. per acre was spot sprayed on the whitetop. Control areas were sprayed in June, July and September. See attached map, 2006 Weed Spray Locations, for the extent of weed control spraying. A spot spray gun was used to concentrate control activities on target areas, reducing potential impacts to adjacent desirable vegetation. The herbicide mix, based on recommendations from the Colorado State Extension Service, was mixed and applied by an outside contractor who is a certified applicator. The weed control areas will continue to be monitored in 2007 for effectiveness and necessary retreatment. See attached weed control daily log spreadsheet for more detailed description of the 2006 herbicide application. Actual field logs are on file at the mine site. SEDIMENTATION POND SURVEYS SCC is required by Permit C-82-057 to monitor sedimentation ponds for sediment storage capacities. This schedule provides a sediment yield history and gives advance warning to operations personnel when sediment clean-out work is required. In accordance with Rule 4.05.6(11) (c), SCC visually inspects each pond a tnitilmum of quarterly each yeaz. During these inspections, any drastic change in sedimentation storage or sudden increase in a sediment delta at the inlet to the pond could be detected which would require mitigation. The results of the 2006 annual survey indicated that all ponds are within the minunum required capacity except possibly Pond 005. Surveyed capadty this year, 5.7 acre feet, is 0.1 ac. ft less than the required capacity. This is within the margin of error for the survey. SCC will resurvey this pond after next years (2007) spring runoff to detemune if ponds needs cleaned out The results of the annual survey are shown on Table 06.4, Sediment Pond Capacities. STOCK TANSS Stock tanks T26 and T27 were partially constmcted in 2006. Weather conditions in October precluded completion of constmction. These stock tanks will be completed in 2007. WILDLIFE MONITORING Seneca Coal Company contracted Thunderbird Wildlife Consulting, Inc. to conduct wildlife surveys and monitoring at the Seneca II-W mine. The work included: 4