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Azurite, Inc. 10001 CR 12 P.O. Box 338 Cotopaxi, Colorado 81223 719-942-4]78 April 26, 2000 State of Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology APR 2 8 2000 1313 Sherman Street Rm 215 Division ulMinerals R Geolpyy Denver, CO 80203 RE: M-1977-247 Georgia-Pacific Gypsum Corporation Annual Report 1999 Field Activities on schedule for yeaz three of a five year Closure Plan execution. The 100 acre affected land area has seen extensive reclamation work performed during the past year. Sixty acres of mined land received seeding and mulching totaling over 100 tons of organic application. About 75,000 tons of gypsum mine benches were drilled, blasted, and bulldozed to final slope of no greater than 1:1. More than 2000 tree and shrub seedlings were planted at the site and maintained throughout the year to add to the more than 30000 seedlings planted since reclamation work was initiated by local boy scouts in 1972. During 1999, approximately 8000 seedlings were maintained via watering on demand and construction and maintenance of protective cages for some tree species. The flat area atop the Senatore and Gold Hill mining levels were covered with 12" of gypsum and limestone foes transported from the South End Dump.The graded planting medium was planted with the Coaldale Seed Mix and mulched with wheat and oat straw at a rate of 2000#/acre. Eight acres of upper highwall area located along the top edge of Gold Hill received three months of concerted effort in the removal of loose gypsum and limestone from a 55 degree slope. This work was accomplished using high pressure water application, hand drilling and barring operations while tied off on safety tines 300 feet above the working mining level. Five acres of disturbed ground located in the North Ridge area was graded and rifled, then planted to grasses and shrubs. During the past year, 500 pounds of native seed mix and 350 pounds of shrub seed was planted over 60 acres of ground. The shrub seed was harvested from on site parent colonies of several species developed over the past twenty-five years of reclamation activities. Additional seed harvests are budgeted for the year 2000 seed crop. For two months in late winter, a herd of beef cattle was contained and fed on steep rocky slopes located above the crusher site area and final graded in 1998. The cattle are "finish grading" the area and helping to prepare a seed bed over an area of bedrock outcrop with no soil. The use of cattle for final grading and seed bed development will increase over the next fe~v years as it appears to be a low cost alternative to final surface grading and preparation for revegetation. The closure plan in on schedule for removal of the final highwall feature in year 2000. In addition, revegetation work will continue. During the past year, the Travelers Casualty and Surety Company Surety Bond No. ] 1 S 1010546] 8 Financial Warranty was decreased by the Division of Minerals and Geology from $1,049,000.00 to $631,000.00, a decrease of $418,000.00 due to reclamation work performed over the past two field seasons. S Y~6~p f`gNS N ti~'^~J/, G F.D+.JLK i