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Overview Background Chevron Mining, Inc. Edna Mine: 2011 Weed Management Report Chevron Mining, Inc. (CMI) has contracted with Habitat Management, Inc. (HMI), a licensed commercial pesticide applicator, over the course of the 2009 -2011 growing seasons to perform noxious weed management at the Edna Mine near Oak Creek, Colorado. This work has been performed on reclaimed lands to control noxious weeds in order to meet the requirements for final bond release. The following State of Colorado noxious weed species have been identified at the Edna Mine: • Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense L.) • Musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.) • Houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale) • Perennial pepperweed (Lepidium latifolium) • Whitetop /hoary cress (Cardaria draba) • Oxeye daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare) This report summarizes HMI's weed management activities at the Edna Mine with emphasis on the 2011 growing season. The "Background" section provides a discussion of noxious weed management efforts at Edna Mine prior to the 2011 growing season. This information provides a backdrop for the noxious weed management work performed this year. Subsequent sections discuss 2011 weed management prioritization, herbicide application methods employed by HMI, and application visit summaries. Locations of noxious weed infestation treatments in 2011 are provided in Appendix A on Map 1 and Map 2. Comprehensive herbicide application records for 2011 are presented in tabular form in Appendix B. Since June 2009, Habitat Management has worked closely with DRMS to determine and implement noxious weed management strategies adequate to address the requirements set forth in Edna Mine's mining and reclamation permit. The vegetation success standards contained in this permit require that less than three percent relative cover by noxious weeds may be present in reclaimed plant communities. Spring and summer weed treatments were performed in 2010. Additionally, a vegetation cover survey of the Moffat area after the summer noxious weed treatment was stipulated by the DRMS to determine if noxious weed cover limitations had been satisfied. Vegetation cover data was collected by HMI following the conclusion of the second herbicide treatments after sufficient time had passed to allow the herbicide to take effect. A letter detailing HMI's proposed vegetation cover sampling methods was submitted for approval to Janet Binns of DRMS on July 13, 2010. These methods are outlined below: • Vegetation sampling was conducted in accordance with the Edna Mine Vegetation Final Bond Release Monitoring Plan (dated April 8, 2005) approved by DRMS. A copy of this plan is available on file at the DRMS. Habitat Management, Inc. 1 August 19, 2011