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October 23,2013 C-1981-041/Roadside Portals MPB <br /> dates of reclamation work completed for each of the disturbed surface areas requested for bond release is provided <br /> in SCC's bond release application titled Snowcap Coal Company Phase I,II,& III Bond Release Application(SL- <br /> 8). This complete document is available for review on our website at www.mining.state.co.us under Mining Data <br /> and Imaged Document Data tabs. <br /> This Phase 1, 11 and III bond release inspection was conducted pursuant to SCC's Bond Release Application (SL- <br /> 8) submitted August 27,2013. The postmining land use is Fish&Wildlife for all areas requested for bond release <br /> in the SL-8 application. <br /> We began the inspection on the morning of October 23rd by orienting the participants to the areas proposed for <br /> bond release with a map and providing some historical information regarding the mining operation itself. During <br /> the inspection,participants walked through large portions of the site subject to the bond release request,to allow <br /> for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements including backfilling and grading, site stability, <br /> blending of regraded land to undisturbed areas, and drainage control for Phase I areas. For Phase II and III release <br /> requested areas pertinent requirements include topsoil replacement thickness,revegetation success, functioning of <br /> the reclaimed land to serve the post-mining land use,assessment of erosional features and bare areas,surface and <br /> groundwater impacts, and completion of all reclamation obligations. Relevant documentation developed over the <br /> past several years is included in previous inspection reports and referenced in this report as appropriate. In <br /> addition,Post-Mining Topography Maps,Certified Cross-Sections of Backfilled and Graded Areas including <br /> reclaimed Sediment Ponds 6 through 11, and Pond 13, and As-Built Drainage Profiles were included in the bond <br /> release application(Tabs 7 and 8)and reviewed by the DRMS during the technical evaluation of the bond release <br /> application. <br /> BACKFILL and GRADING—Rule 4.14 <br /> Contemporaneous Reclamation 4.14.1;Approximate Original Contour 4.14.2;Highwall Elimination 4.14.1(2)(f); <br /> Steep Slopes 4.14.2,4.27;Handling of Acid and Toxic Materials 4.14.3; Stabilization of Rills and Gullies 4.14.6: <br /> The reclaimed areas of the mine site were stable with adequate surface water runoff control. Since this was an <br /> underground mining operation backfill and grading to approximate original contour is not applicable. Based on <br /> observations made during this and previous inspections,the reclaimed areas have been restored to the approved <br /> configurations as described in the permit application package (PAP). Observations were made throughout the <br /> inspection with regard to erosional stability of the reclaimed landscape. Two areas of concern were noted by the <br /> DRMS and the OSM where erosion had occurred in two drainage channels due to the recent prolonged storms and <br /> significant precipitation that fell earlier this year during the late summer months. These channels are discussed <br /> below under Hydrologic Balance. One other area of concern raised by the OSM during the inspection is located in <br /> the southeast corner of the North Portal permit area. This is the location where the Bureau of Reclamation(during <br /> Permit Revision No. 5 review)requested that the flume that carried runoff from the East Diversion Ditch 2 directly <br /> into the Government Highline Canal be removed so that the flow no longer enters into the canal. With PR-5 the <br /> Bureau of Reclamation was involved and provided their approval of a new design to install Ditches D-D6,D-D7 <br /> and D-D8 so that the flow would be directed to a revegetated area adjacent to the canal. As noted during the <br /> inspection there is evidence of recent sheet flow and sediment deposition below the ditches that replaced the <br /> flume. This is also discussed below under Hydrologic Balance. The location of the former flume was backfilled <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 3 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> Page 3 of 18 <br />