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BAMBERG ECOLOGICAL <br />Environmental Consulting Services <br />December 1, 2008 <br />Mr. Paul Glader <br />Hecla Mining Company <br />6500 N. Mineral Drive, Suite 200 <br />Coeur d-Alene, Idaho 83815-9408 <br />Re: Results of Seed Dispersal Trip to Mesita Hill Site in October and November 2008 <br />Dear Mr. Glader: <br />This letter is to document the grading and seed dispersal efforts at Mesita Hill Mine (Mine Id # <br />M-1977-227) in Costilla County, Colorado during fall 2008. Mesita Hill is an open-pit volcanic <br />scoria mining operation owned by Hecla Mining Company encompassing a 201.2-acre permit <br />area. The mine is located in southern Colorado in the San Luis Valley east of Highway 159 <br />(Sec 26, Township 2 North, Range 74 West of the 6`h Principal Meridian). The mine is in final <br />reclamation and this report addresses grading and seeding efforts performed during the sum- <br />mer and fall 2008. <br />Major reclamation activities took place at the Mesita Mine site during 2008. Site inspections <br />were performed by Bob Oswald of Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety. Fill <br />and topsoil material were moved and graded performed during the summer and fall by Sawtooth <br />Engine & Aircraft, Inc. Additional grass seed was purchased and mixed with previously col- <br />lected local, native shrub and grass seed. After all earthwork was complete, seed was dis- <br />persed during late October and early November 2008 by Bamberg Ecological. Results of the <br />grading and seeding activities are detailed below. <br />Grading <br />Robert Fratti of Sawtooth Engine & Aircraft, Inc. (Chalis, Idaho) was retained for the earthwork <br />at Mesita Hill Mine. Mr. Fratti utilized the local firm of G-4 Excavation (Questa, New Mexico) for <br />heavy equipment and some of the labor. The earthwork was in response to Bob Oswald ex- <br />pressing concern over the steep sides of several of the open pits left by mining operations. <br />Earthwork efforts involved filling the smaller pits and reducing the slopes of the larger pits, in- <br />eluding the main pit (see Photo 1), with mined material remains stockpiled around the site. A <br />2622 Valentia St. * Denver, Colorado 80238 * (303) 933-7291 .1