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June 6,2012 C-1994-082/Yoast Mine SB1 Inspection Topic Summary NOTE: Y=Inspected N=Not Inspected R=Comments Noted V=Violation Issued NA=Not Applicable N -Air Resource Protection N -Roads N -Availability of Records Y -Reclamation Success Y -Backfill& Grading R -Revegetation N -Excess Spoil and Dev.Waste NA - Subsidence N -Explosives N - Slides and Other Damage R -Fish&Wildlife N - Support Facilities On-site Y -Hydrologic Balance N - Signs and Markers Y -Gen. Compliance With Mine Plan NA - Support Facilities Not On-site N -Other NA - Special Categories Of Mining N -Processing Waste N -Topsoil COMMENTS FISH and WILDLIFE—Rule 4.18 and REVEGETATION—Rule 4.15 Reclamation of wildlife habitat is a goal at the Yoast Mine. To this end, SCC has developed three seed mixes that are predominantly native species and are valuable for forage. The three mixes are for: 1) Shrub grassland mix for upland sites and ephemeral drainages,2) mesic drainages and subirrigated sites and 3)alkaline lowland disturbance areas. In addition to planting one of the permanent seed mixes, SCC also transplants native shrubs and trees of varying sizes to create habitat diversity. SCC has worked closely with Colorado State University and the US Forest Service,Rocky Mountain Research Station in an effort to reestablish shrubs and aspen trees on the reclaimed lands. Part of the funding was provided through an OSM Applied Science grant. The result of these past studies is a number of shrub and aspen tree plantings throughout the reclaimed landscape. Most of the shrub plantings are surrounded by elk proof fencing to minimize browse impacts on the transplants. In the past, SCC shrub transplants were so heavily browsed that few survived in the reclamation. Use of the fencing does promote much better establishment and growth.According to Mr. Karo, SCC intends to keep the fences intact. Picture 1 shows one of the mesic shrub plantings with boxelder and willow. Picture 2 shows an aspen plot that was established using techniques established the U.S.Forest Service,Rocky Mountain Research Station as part of their study. A key part of that study was the installation of weed control fabric along each planting row. The aspen in that plot have grown considerably since they were first planted in 2005. The majority of the reclaimed landscape has been reclaimed to a grassland sage community. Big sagebrush is included in Seed Mix 1 and is well represented in the reclamation. Sage grasslands provide browse and cover for deer,elk,birds,rabbits,marmots, antelope and many other small mammal and bird species. Picture 3 was taken along the Neck pit area and shows a representative sagebrush grassland. Picture 4 is a bird nest that is hidden near the base of a grass plant on the ground. The sediment ponds at the Yoast Mine attract quite a few species of wildlife. Large and small game use them as Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 13 Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 4 Page 2 of 6