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Area No. 1, and was not detected by sampling in Mine Area No. 3. It is Cedar Creek's understanding that <br />an active program of knapweed control continues to be implemented, and given expectation, should <br />reduce the existing population to near zero values if implemented with due diligence. Once controlled on <br />the reclaimed surface, a program of continued maintenance will be necessary for an additional three <br />years to address seed remaining in the soil that can remain viable for that period of time. Remaining <br />reclamation shows a very good mosaic of shrubs including Wyoming big sagebrush, four -wing saltbush <br />and winterfat (Krasdheninnikovia ianata) in the overstory with mixed patches of blue grama, needle and <br />thread, Indian ricegrass, galleta, and scarlet globemallow in the understory. <br />In addition, review of Chart 3 indicates that the diversity standard (though met in 2010) is set far <br />too high for this project area. None of the three reference areas would be able to pass this standard. <br />Both sagebrush reference areas are lacking sufficient forb cover and only exhibit a single warm - season <br />grass with more than 3% composition. Similarly, the grassland reference area only exhibits a single <br />warm- season grass, and is so dominated by needle- and - thread that it exceeds the upper criterion of 40% <br />composition and therefore is excluded. As such, if there is any issue with regard to this variable in 2011, <br />there is justification for a technical revision to the permit. <br />3.7 2010 — Success Comparisons <br />Success evaluations in 2010 involve a direct comparison of appropriate parameters for each variable <br />of interest. Comparison ;re made directly with either the reference area parameters or the permitted <br />standards. In the case of ground cover and production, comparisons for each segregate mine area are <br />directly made against weighted reference area data from the same year. For Mine Area No. 1, Sagebrush <br />Reference Area A receives 89% weight and the Grassland Reference Area receives 11% weight. For <br />Mine Area No. 3, Sagebrush Reference Area A receives 50% weight, as does Sagebrush Reference Area <br />B. These weights are based on pre- disturbance acreages of these communities. Charts 1, 2, and 3 were <br />developed to provide a quick overview of the success of these efforts in comparison to reference area <br />based criteria and the diversity standards. <br />Chart 1 and Table 1 exhibit the results from ground cover sampling, and reveals that both Mine Area <br />No. 1 and No. 3 exceed the reference area comparison. Mine Area No. 1 exhibited 30.72% perennial <br />cover in 2010 that exceeds 90% of the weighted reference area perennial value (20.35 %) by a <br />substantial margin. Similarly, Mine Area No. 3 exhibited 22.60% perennial cover in 2010 that exceeds <br />90% of the weighted reference area perennial value (18.78 %) by a reasonable margin. <br />Chart 2 and Table 3 exhibit the results from production sampling, and reveals that both Mine Area <br />No. 1 and No. 3 exceed the reference area comparison. Mine Area No. 1 exhibited 344.5 pounds per <br />CEDAR CREEK ASSOCIATES, Inc. Page 15 Hamilton Mine - Phase III Bond Release <br />Year 1 of 2 <br />