2014-03-31_REVISION - C1994082 - Laserfiche WebLink

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, "r °FT United States Department of the Interior A OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING Reclamation and Enforcement a Western Region Office 1999 Broadway, Suite 3320 Denver, CO 80202 -3050 MAR 3 12014 David Berry, Director Office of Mined Land Reclamation DIVISION OF RECLAMATION Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety MINING AND SAFETY 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 -2273 CS FA E n w 9r ��ry AND EN RE: Approval of SL -5 Partial Phase I, II, and III Bond Release, Yoast Mine, Permit No. C- 1994 -082, DRMS Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance, March 5, 2014 Dear Mr. Berry, This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement ( OSMRE) Denver Field Division's (DFD) receipt and review of the above Phase I, II, and III (final) Bond Release Proposed Decision document prepared by the Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (DRMS) dated March 5, 2014. DFD agrees with the findings and decision document and hereby provides OSMRE concurrence for the above bond release action in accordance with 30 CFR 740.15 (d) (3), and 30 CFR 906.30, Article IX, Section 24, of the State - Federal Cooperative Agreement. DRMS's Proposed Decision documents the applicant's compliance with the approved Colorado regulatory program at Rule 3.03.2. This Phase I, II, and III (final) bond release applies to 6.25 acres within and adjacent to the intersection of Routt Country Roads 27 and 27A. These 6.25 acres will remain within the permit area boundary. The land within this application is private and County. Federal, State, and private coal was mined within the C -1994 -082 permit boundary ( Yoast Mine is under permanent cessation), although the 6.25 acres under consideration with this SL -5 bond release was not mined for coal. OSMRE attended the bond release inspection on December 18, 2013. The BLM also attended the inspection and has provided their concurrence with this bond release (see attachment). OSMRE interprets the BLM's concurrence to mean that Seneca Coal Company, LLC (SCC) is in compliance with all applicable BLM coal lease stipulations. Based on available documentation, OSMRE agrees with DRMS's determination that SCC has met or exceeded the requirements for Phase I, II, and III (final) bond release on the 6.25 acres of land as described above. The Division currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $2,221,677.26 for the Yoast Mine. The Division now proposes to release $1,493.63. DRMS has determined that the remaining $2,220,183.63 in bond liability is sufficient to assure completion of the reclamation plan if the work had to be performed by the Division or through independent contractors in the event of forfeiture. OSMRE concurs with the proposed bond liability release amount.