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The Division scheduled and conducted a bond release inspection on December 18, 2013. The site <br />inspection was conducted in accordance with Rule 3.03.2(2). The inspection began at the Seneca Coal <br />Company office. Participants attending the inspection included; Jay James and Katryna Snowden of <br />Seneca Coal Company, Jennifer Maiolo of the Bureau of Land Management- Little Snake Resource <br />Area, Dan McKinnon of the Office of Surface Mining- Denver Field Office, Mike Mordi of Routt <br />County Road and Bridge Department, and Janet Binns of the Division. Surface owners Dennis and <br />Laurie Hallenbeck were notified of the inspection by certified mail, but chose not to attend or send a <br />representative to the inspection. The only other surface owner associated with the 6.25 -acre area subject <br />to this bond release request is Routt County. <br />The Division identified two adequacy concerns, and notified SCC of these concerns in a preliminary <br />adequacy review letter on January 30, 2014. The Division requested a map or sketch of the regraded site <br />that depicts adequate topography in order for the Division to evaluate drainage from the area in <br />accordance with Rule 3.03.1(3)(a). Portions of the regraded site had been seeded. The Division <br />requested detail on the seed mix used on the reclaimed area. SCC informed the Division that the <br />construction work at the round -about was conducted under the direction of Routt County. On February <br />10, 2014, SCC provided a copy of Routt County's specification for the work for the county road No. 27 <br />roundabout project. This detailed information provided adequate information for the Division to <br />evaluate compliance with Rule 3.03.1 (2), and addressed the Division's concerns. <br />II. CRITERIA AND SCHEDULE FOR BOND RELEASE <br />PHASE I <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) states, "Up to sixty percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released when the <br />permittee successfully completes backfilling, regrading, and drainage control in accordance with the <br />approved reclamation plan." <br />This 6.25 -acre area, located on the west side of Routt County Road (RCR) No. 27, was initially <br />disturbed in 1996 when Seneca Coal Company walked a dragline from the Seneca II Mine operation to <br />the Yoast Mine haul road. This entire route, of which this 6.25 -acre area is a part, is referred to as the <br />Dragline Deadhead Route. <br />The dragline deadhead route and associated RCR No. 27 detour disturbance was initially reclaimed <br />by SCC in 2007. Routt County constructed a permanent round -about at the intersection of Routt <br />County Roads No. 27 and No. 27A within a portion of the reclaimed dragline walking route. The <br />work was specified and contracted by Routt County. Construction began in July 2012 that resulted in a <br />redisturbance of the 6.25 -acre reclaimed area. The postmining land use for the 6.25 -acre area was <br />changed from rangeland wildlife habitat to commercial and industrial use in 2013 (TR52, AP <br />4/15/2013), as a result of Routt County's construction activity. SCC does not anticipate future use of <br />this 6.25 acre area by SCC. <br />C1994 -082 Yoast Mine SL5 4 March 5, 2014 <br />