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Rio Tinto Energy America <br />Colowyo Coal Company, L.P. <br />Co I owyo Mine <br />2009 REVEGETATION MONITORING REPORT <br />REVEGETATION UNITS: REFERENCE AREAS: <br />EP037 EP046 SAGEBRUSH <br />EP042 EP047 MOUNTAIN SHRUB <br />EP043 SECTION 16 -YEAR 10 <br />1.0 INTRODUCTION <br />Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. (Cedar Creek) was contracted in 2009 by Colowyo Coal Company <br />(Colowyo) to implement a vegetation monitoring program within selected revegetated units at the <br />Colowyo Mine. Monitoring was performed in the interest of ascertaining progress toward revegetation <br />success in general accordance with Rule 3.03, Release of Performance Bonds. The revegetated areas <br />evaluated in 2009 consisted of 6 total units within the East Pit area and a collection of 10-year old areas <br />in Section 16. These areas range in size from 13.9 acres to 101.6 acres. At the time of sampling, <br />revegetation within evaluated units had experienced between 2 to 10 growing seasons following <br />completion of seeding. In addition, two reference areas (Mountain Shrub - 1980 and Sagebrush - 1981) <br />were sampled to provide cover and production comparison values to facilitate an evaluation of progress <br />toward success for the reclaimed units. Mountain Shrub reference area data are weighted 55% whereas <br />the Sagebrush reference area data are weighted 45% for this comparison for the original permitted <br />operations at Colowyo. The location of each unit and reference area evaluated in 2009 is indicated on <br />Map 1 and the sample points within each area are provided on "in-text" maps for each unit in Section <br />2.0. <br />Field sampling for the directly measurable variables of ground cover, current annual production, and <br />woody plant density was systematically conducted within all designated units from July 26th through July <br />31St, 2009. The growing season prior to and during the sampling period could be qualitatively <br />characterized as slightly above average with regard to precipitation. However, a review of the full 12 <br />months prior to sampling reveals slightly below average precipitation. Sampling occurred immediately <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 1 Colowyo Mine <br />2009 Revegetation Monitoring Report