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AM W COLORADO <br />Division of Reclamation, <br />Mining( and Safety <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 <br />Denver, CO 80203 <br />October 9, 2015 <br />Chris Gilbreath <br />Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, Inc. <br />P.O. Box 33695 <br />Denver, CO 80233-0695 <br />Re: New Horizon 2 (Permit No. C-1981-008) <br />Phase II Bond Release 15 (SL -15) <br />Adequacy Review 1 <br />Dear Mr. Gilbreath: <br />DRMS received your bond release application (SL -15) regarding the Phase II of 77.4 acres of irrigated and <br />dryland pasture on July 23, 2015. The application was deemed complete on August 12, 2015 when the proof of <br />publication was submitted. The bond release inspection took place at the mine site on August 18, 2015. After a <br />review of the application and the inspection, DRMS has the following question and comments: <br />Two small areas on the Richard's property should be added to the bond release application. One area <br />appears to be the former pond 14 and the other is on the SE corner and measures approximately 50'x50'. <br />2.05.4 — Backfill and Grading <br />1. On the permit Map 2.05.4-4 Postmining Topsoil Replacement, the Benson's and Richard's properties are <br />to have a combined topsoil depth (lift A and B) of 23-39 inches. The reported topsoil depths on the SL - <br />15 application Map 3 average is 15.6 inches. During the inspection, 10 holes were dug with a backhoe <br />to verify the topsoil depths and these depths averaged 19.7 inches. Please explain why the replaced <br />topsoil depth does not equal the depth as outlined in the permit. <br />2. On permit Map 2.05.4-7 WFC, Lloyd & Benson West Properties Topsoil Replacement Plan, the average <br />topsoil replacement depth is to be 21 inches (15-24"). The reported topsoil depths on the SL -15 <br />application Map 3 average is 21.96 inches. During the inspection, 5 holes were dug with a backhoe to <br />verify the topsoil depths and these depths averaged 30 inches. Please explain why the average topsoil <br />replacement depth exceeds the required average. <br />The irrigated pasture of the Benson property has differential settling. Several areas have settled at a <br />greater rate than other areas causing `potholes' to form. Surface runoff water from the irrigation system <br />collects in the potholes resulting in standing water and saturated soil around the pothole. The hayfield <br />was cut prior to the inspection and several of the potholes had been avoided leaving standing hay/alfalfa. <br />/e� OF Cp10,� <br />.`01 <br />1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, CO 80203 P 303.866.3567 F 303.832.8106 http://mining.state.co.us <br />John W. Hickentooper, Governor I Mike King, Executive Director Virginia Brannon, Director ® i` <br />� 1876 .-- <br />