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The following discussion of observations and findings focuses on the results of topsoil <br />redistribution, establishment of vegetation, and evaluation of suspended solids contributions <br />outside of the permit area. During the bond release inspection, participants walked through the <br />entire Munger Canyon Mine site and the Loma loadout site to allow for visual assessment of <br />compliance with pertinent requirements as described above in Section II of this document. As <br />noted earlier, all areas for bond release in the SL -2 application have already been granted <br />Phase I release outside of 1.3 acres of haul road narrowing which was not granted with SL -1 <br />in 2008. Topographic maps depicting approximate existing and final reclamation contours are <br />presented on Figures 2.2 -7A, 2.2 -7C, and 3.1 -2 through 3.1 -9 of the PAP. Revegetation <br />practices and evaluation techniques are located in Section 3.5 of the PAP. Submitted as <br />Technical Revision No. 25, soil loss and revegetation evaluation demonstration is included in <br />the PAP as Appendix M(viii) and Table 4.8 -35. All applicable sections in the Munger Canyon <br />Mine PAP were reviewed by the Division during the technical evaluation of the bond release <br />application. <br />Topsoil Replacement <br />In May and July of 2007, backfilling and top soiling operations were completed at the mine <br />portal area, the portal access road, the coal mine waste area, the access road and the lower road <br />topsoil stockpile area. Approximately 6 inches of topsoil was placed at all the areas reclaimed <br />outside of pre- mining disturbances and the reclaimed haul road as required in the Munger <br />Canyon Mine PAP. During the construction of the haul road along the steep slopes, no topsoil <br />was encountered and thus no topsoil replacement occurred along the reclaimed haul road. A total <br />of 5 topsoil replacement verification holes were dug along the reclamation areas related with SL- <br />2 at the Munger Canyon Mine site. Topsoil verification holes No. 1 and No. 2 were taken at the <br />1.3 acres of haul road narrowing, No. 3 and No. 4 were taken at the coal mine waste pile, and <br />No. 5 was taken at the mine portal bench. Each hole was identified with GPS location and <br />verification holes No. 1 through No. 4 can be seen on Figure 1. Due to limited satellite <br />reception within the Munger Canyon, a GPS point could not be taken for verification hole No. <br />5. Topsoil verification depths are shown in Photographs No. 2 through No. 5. <br />The Loma loadout site was disturbed prior to permitting as coal load out. As such, no topsoil <br />was salvaged at the loadout site. The pre- mining land use at the loadout was industrial and <br />the post- mining land use is approved as industrial. <br />Reve etg ation <br />Reseeding occurred at the Munger Canyon Mine site in 2006 at the light use road and in 2007 for <br />the mine portal area, haul road and coal mine waste area. Success of revegetation of reclaimed <br />areas is determined by comparison to the big sagebrush shrubland and juniper woodland <br />reference areas using the same techniques used in the baseline vegetation inventory in the PAP <br />and in accordance with Rule 3.03. Success criteria for Phase II Bond release requires that the <br />reclaimed area achieve a perennial vegetation cover of greater than or equal to 90% of the <br />perennial vegetation average cover of the approved reference area as per Rule 4.15.8. <br />The Munger Canyon Mine site and its associated reference areas were sampled by Cedar Creek <br />