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DRMS Permit C-1992-080 Page 5 of 7 <br />II. CRITERIA AND SCHEDULE FOR BOND RELEASE <br /> <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(c) states that the final portion of performance bond, "shall be released when the permittee <br />has successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with this <br />approved reclamation plan, and the final inspection procedures of 3.03.2 have been satisfied. This shall <br />not be before the expiration of the period specified for revegetation responsibility in 3.02.3." Rule <br />3.03.1(4) states, " No bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of these Rules and the <br />Act are fully met...". The same rule goes on to state, " No acreage shall be released from the permit area <br />until all surface coal mining and reclamation operations on that acreage have been completed in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan." <br /> <br />All of the area within the Carbon Junction Mine must meet backfilling and grading requirements, and the <br />post-mining topography must be consistent with approximate original contour. The Division approved a <br />variance related to operations on steep slopes because the operator provided a thorough analytical <br />demonstration that the variance will result in reclaimed areas that are environmentally sound and <br />structurally stable. The reclamation plan also requires that Carbon Junction Canyon be protected from <br />erosion with riprap lining. Backfilling and grading to achieve approved post-mining topography were <br />approved with SL-02 and SL-03. <br /> <br />The reclamation plan requires that a sufficient thickness of topsoil be distributed upon the reclaimed areas. <br />The plan allows for Topsoil Stockpiles # 4 and # 7 remain as permanent features (per TR-16, June 2010), <br />and the Division determined that leaving the stockpiles in place would not hinder achievement of <br />approximate original contour. The plan calls for reclamation of other topsoil stockpiles. Topsoil <br />requirements were approved with SL-02 and SL-04. <br /> <br />Revegetation success criteria for the Carbon Junction Mine is based on a post-mining land use of dryland <br />pasture. Dryland pasture is the primary post-mining land use (designated with PR-01 in 2015); a secondary <br />post-mining land use of industrial and commercial, recreation, and residential was established with TR-05 <br />(1996). A 1.7-acre reference area, east of the South Pit Drill Pad, contains a mixture of pasture grasses, <br />mountain shrub, and pinyon-juniper communities. <br /> <br />Requirements of the revegetation success criteria include: <br /> Vegetation cover must be great or equal to 90 percent of the total herbaceous cover of the reference <br />area. <br /> Herbaceous production must be great or equal to 90 percent of the total herbaceous production of <br />the reference area. <br /> Species diversity must be proven. For example, the reclamation areas must contain three or more <br />perennial or biennial species, and these species must include two cool season grasses and one forb. <br /> No criteria was set for woody plant density. This was at the request of the surface landowner. <br /> <br />The Carbon Junction reclamation plan requires protection of the hydrologic balance through the use of a <br />sediment control system (ditches and ponds) and an underdrain under the Previously Reclaimed Spoils <br />Area. Within the Carbon Junction Mine permit document, the probable hydrologic consequences (PHC) <br />section predicted minimal impacts on surface water and groundwater. A water quality and quantity <br />monitoring program was established at the mine to assess the validity of the PHC. <br />