Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />December 31, 2014 <br /> <br />To: Marcia Talvitie <br /> <br />From: Brock Bowles <br /> <br />RE: Bowie 1 Mine; C-1981-038 <br /> Surety Release No. 5 (SL-5) <br /> Adequacy Review Memo <br /> <br />I have finished my review of the bond release application for the Bowie 1 Mine and have the following <br />comments and questions: <br /> <br />1. The success criteria in the Revegetation Evaluation Report- 2013 by Cedar Creek <br />Associates states that the total plant cover for the East Mine must be ≥ 90% of the total <br />plant standard of 40% (36%). This would normally be a correct statement according to <br />Rule 4.15.11(2)(a); however, the permit (Volume 9A, Vegetation-Part 2, page 6) states <br />that the vegetation for the East Mine will be considered successful if the “total vegetation <br />ground cover exceeded 40 percent.” Therefore, the ground cover must be greater than <br />40% and in this particular case, the 90% rule does not apply. The wording for the <br />standard needs to be corrected in the application report on pages 6, 7, 12 and 14. The <br />vegetative cover at the ROM area (part of East Mine) was 54.27%, well above the <br />standard, and it is still eligible for Phase II bond release. The vegetative cover standard <br />for the West Mine is correct as it is written in the application. <br /> <br />2. The success criteria for Phase III bond release of the East and West mining areas listed on <br />page 6 and 7 of the Revegetation Evaluation Report- 2013 by Cedar Creek Associates are <br />not consistent with the permit. Although this application is not applying for Phase III <br />bond release, the following items should be addressed for consistency and accuracy: <br /> <br />a. The application states that the woody plant density for the East and West mine is <br />≥ 90% of 1,000 stems per acre. The permit states the woody plant density is <br />between 800 and 1000 stems per acre (Volume 1-2.05 part 2, page 75 and <br />Volume 9A, Vegetation-Part 2, page 6). <br /> <br />b. In the diversity section of the application, one standard is missing: “the five <br />herbaceous species combined will not exceed 90% in relative cover or <br />production.” The five species noted in this standard are to be native, perennial, <br />herbaceous species (Volume 1-2.05 part 2, page 75). <br /> <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, CO 80203P 303.866.3567 F 303.832.8106 http://mining.state.co.us <br /> <br />John W. Hickenlooper, Governor | Mike King, Executive Director | Virginia Brannon, Director <br />