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October 23,2013 C-1981-041/Roadside Portals MPB <br /> I, II, and II they are referenced in the bond release application as Haul Roads CRDA 1,2, and 3 see Item 98 of <br /> Attachment 2 of this report. They have been approved as permanent roads and will not be reclaimed. Haul Road <br /> 4 is the main Coal Creek access and has BLM permanent easement consent letter in Appendix 14-5 page A 14-5- <br /> 7of the PAP. Haul Road 5 is a shared road between Public Service Company and Snowcap Coal Company for <br /> access to the CRDA-1 refuse pile and Xcel Energy's permanent ash pile. There are landowner consent letters in <br /> Appendix 14-5 pages A14-5-11 through 15 in the PAP. The North Decline Road(Item 93 on Attachment 2)is <br /> identified as Access Rd 2 in the PAP and is a permanent road with approval/consent letters also contained in <br /> Appendix 14-5 pages A14-5-11 and 13. The 2 West Portals Access Road(Item#13)on Attachment 2 also <br /> identified as Access Road 3 in the PAP is approved as a permanent road with approval consent letters from three <br /> landowners as follows: Powderhorn Properties pages A14-5-11 and 13,Pitkin Iron Corporation pages A14-5-3 <br /> and 4, and the BLM pages A14-5-7 and 10. <br /> RECLAMATION SUCCESS -Rule 4.15,Rule 3: <br /> All reclamation obligations have been completed for the vast majority of the acreages included within the bond <br /> release request areas. For those acreages listed on Table 2 that are being requested for Phase I bond release all <br /> requirements have been met. SCC has complied with all permit conditions and has met the requirements for those <br /> acreages listed on Table 2 being requested for Phase II&III bond release with exception of a few isolated areas <br /> where there are bare areas or a general lack of vegetation. These areas may be excluded from the Phase II, III <br /> bond release pending further consideration which will be detailed in our forthcoming Proposed Decision and <br /> Findings of Compliance for bond release application SL-8. Further evaluation and analysis of subsidence and <br /> hydrologic impacts is also continuing regarding the objection to this bond release filed by Mr. Rudolph Fontanari, <br /> Jr. Mr.Fontanari is a formal landowner objector with allegations related to subsidence and hydrology damage. <br /> REVEGETATION—Rule 4.15 <br /> Vegetative Cover;Timing: <br /> All disturbed areas at the Roadside North and South Portals Mine were seeded for revegetation utilizing the <br /> approved seed mixes contained in the PAP. Cedar Creek Associates,Inc.was contracted in 2011 and 2012 by <br /> SCC to evaluate revegetated units for Phase III bond release. Cedar Creek prepared and submitted the detailed <br /> evaluation report 2011 &2012 Phase III Bond Release Evaluation—Years 1 &2 to SCC and the DRMS in April, <br /> 2013 prior to the bond release inspection. Sampling efforts were conducted in 2011 and 2012 on 16 individual <br /> reclamation units ranging in size from less than an acre to 20.2 acres. The report includes evaluation of the <br /> Greasewood Comparison Revegetation Areas,the Shadscale Comparison Revegetation Areas and their <br /> corresponding reference areas,the Greasewood Reference Area and the Shadscale Reference Area. The <br /> revegetated areas evaluated in 2011 and 2012 were separated into two sampling units based on the reference area <br /> used for comparison, as per TR-60. Cedar Creek concluded that the data demonstrate the success and utility of the <br /> revegetated areas,especially given the levels of vegetative ground cover and favorable results with regards to <br /> diversity,herbaceous production, and woody plant density. With regard to the success standards,all bond release <br /> areas substantially exceed and pass all seven of the standards and criteria. Photographs 17 and 18 illustrate the <br /> success of the revegetation efforts at CRDA-1 and CRDA-2. <br /> The DRMS concurs with the findings made by Cedar Creek; however,as previously discussed several small bare <br /> Number of Partial Inspection this Fiscal Year: 3 <br /> Number of Complete Inspections this Fiscal Year: 2 <br /> Page 7 of 18 <br />