Laserfiche WebLink
7. All areas requested for Phase III bond release meet the requirements for Phase I and Phase H <br />bond release or have previously received Phase I and Phase II bond release approval. <br />Colowyo's approved reclamation plan was prepared in accordance with Rule 2.05.4. Colowyo was <br />granted a variance for contemporaneous reclamation for the East Pit, West Pit and the South <br />Taylor Pit due to the nature of multi -seam mining. Backfilling and rough grading commenced <br />once a steady-state condition was reached in each of the pits. <br />Colowyo provided vegetation monitoring reports for the Phase III Bond Release areas in the SL - <br />10 application. <br />IV. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />The following discussion of observations and findings focuses on the results of vegetation re- <br />establishment and compliance with the reclamation plan in the East and West Pit for the Partial <br />Phase III Bond Release. Reclamation parcels were reclaimed from 2000 through 2003. Vegetation <br />sampling was conducted in 2013 and 2014. All the requested parcels associated with the SL -10 <br />application have met or surpassed the minimum lability time frame of ten years in accordance with <br />Rule 3.02.3(2)(b). <br />The evaluation of the bond release application included a review of past inspection reports, annual <br />reclamation reports, and annual hydrology reports, as well as a pre -inspection meeting to discuss <br />permit requirements and regulatory criteria, and the bond release inspection. The bond release <br />inspection was conducted on September 7, 2016. Several items including revegetation success data <br />that were included in the bond release application were review by the Division in the office during <br />the technical evaluation of the bond release application before, during and after the inspection. <br />During the partial Phase III Bond Release inspection, participants walked through most of the <br />bond release request area to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent <br />requirements as described above in Section III of this document. A summary of the observations <br />are discussed below and the details are further discussed in the associated inspection report. <br />Drainage Reestablishment <br />The majority of the Phase III area of the East Pit drains into the Gulch A Ditch and East Side <br />Collection Ditch before, reaching the Gulch A Pond. No problems were noted along the length of <br />the Gulch A Ditch and the ditch has reached equilibrium at this point. Reclamation parcels EP039, <br />EP040 and a portion of EP041 drains into the Streeter Ditch and finally to the Streeter Pond. No <br />issues were observed with the Streeter Ditch. The Division is not proposing to release any portion of <br />the Gulch A and Streeter Ditches with SL -10. <br />The Phase III area of the West Pit were three relatively smaller reclamation parcels WP008, <br />WP009, and WPO11. Reclamation parcel WP008 drains into the East Taylor Pond Ditch before <br />reaching the West Pit Fill Ditch and finally to the West Pit Pond. Parcel WPO11 drains into the West <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance January 2017 <br />Partial Phase III Bond Release SL -10 Page 5 <br />