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May 30, 2012 C- 1991- 078/Hamilton Mine JLE <br />have been destroyed as indicated in MR12. In accordance with Rule 4.07. 1(1) each well shall be plugged, sealed <br />or otherwise managed, as approved by the Division to prevent acid or other toxic drainage from entering ground or <br />surface waters; minimize disturbance to the prevailing hydrologic balance, and ensure the safety of people, <br />livestock, fish and wildlife and machinery in the permit and adjacent areas. Given this, Honeywood will need to <br />gain access and document the conditions of the Alluvial Monitoring Wells 4 -7. This information will need to be <br />submitted to the Division. The wells will need to be abandoned and sealed in accordance with Rule 4.07 discussed <br />above. Or, if the landowner desires for these wells to remain in place, in accordance with Rule 4.05.14 the wells <br />can be transferred to be managed under his control and a well permit must be obtained from the State Engineer. <br />The perimeter of the mine areas were walked, and no spoil springs were observed. <br />RECLAMATION SUCCESS - Rule 4.15, Rule 3: <br />Mine Area No. 3 was walked; the desired vegetation has established and is a little sparse in some areas. Several <br />patches of Russian Thistle (Salsola australis) and Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) were observed throughout this <br />parcel. The revegetation monitoring data submitted with the surety release request indicated a lager percent <br />relative cover can be attributed to Russian Thistle. However, excluding the cover and production contribution of <br />these species, the revegetation success criterion has been met for both mining areas. The primary species observed <br />in Mine Area No. 3 are Needle -and thread (Stipa comata), Fourwing Salt Brush (Artiplex canescens), and Blue <br />Grama (Boutelous gracilis). This appears to be consistent with the revegetation monitoring data submitted with <br />the SL3 application. Russian thistle does not appear to be spreading outside of the affected land. Mine Area No.3 <br />appears to have been heavily grazed by either cattle or wildlife. No significant erosion features were observed. <br />Mine Area No. 1 was walked and the desired vegetation has established throughout the affected area. Many of the <br />same species observed in Mine Area No. 3 were observed in this area. However Russian Thistle was not as <br />prevalent. <br />Three of the four reference areas were observed. Sagebrush Reference Area A's dominant vegetation was <br />Wyoming Big Sagebrush. Several native grasses were contained in the understory of the shrubs; however the <br />understory vegetation was very sparse. Russian thistle was not observed. <br />The southernmost Grassland Reference area was observed. This site appears to have been heavily grazed. Blue <br />Grama and Needle- and - Thread appeared to be the dominant vegetation. <br />Sagebrush Reference Area B was similar to Sagebrush Reference Area A. A few annual fobs were observed <br />between the Wyoming Big Sagebrush as well as Blue Grama Grass and Sand Dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus). <br />Pond A has been graded and seeded. The primary vegetation observed in this small area was Russian Thistle. <br />Several grass species were observed such as Bottlebrush Squirreltail (Sitanion hystrix) and Indian Ricegrass <br />(Oryzopsis hymenoides) but these species were sparse. The Operator will need to re -seed this affected land with <br />the approved seed mix in the fall prior to the approval of the site release. <br />Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 8 <br />Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 <br />Page 3 of 5 <br />