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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 July 26, 2017. Several items including topsoil redistribution and <br />revegetation success data that were included in the bond release application were review by the <br />Division in the office during the technical evaluation of the bond release application before, during <br />and after the inspection. <br />During the partial Phase II and III Bond Release inspection, participants walked through each of <br />the bond release request parcels to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent <br />requirements as described above in Section III of this document. In addition, topsoil verification <br />holes of each of the Phase II reclamation parcels were dug during the June 22, 2017 inspection. <br />A summary of the observations are discussed below and the details are further discussed in the <br />associated inspection report. <br />Topsoil Replacement <br />A total of 17 topsoil verification holes were dug and measured during the June 22, 2017 <br />inspection in order to verify topsoil depths within the areas being requested for Phase II of the <br />SL -12 application. Topsoil depth requirements have changed throughout the years at the <br />Colowyo Mine. Topsoil depth requirements for the Colowyo Mine can be found in Rule 2, <br />Section 2.05 and Rule 4, Section 4.06 of the Colowyo Permit. For the Section 16 Pit, topsoil <br />must be a minimum of 18" in depth. Holes were dug with the assistance of a backhoe provide by <br />the Colowyo Mine and each of the 17 topsoil verification holes were dug to a minimum of 18" in <br />depth. The topsoil hole was then immediately backfilled and reseeded after the depth of topsoil <br />was verified. Table 4 and Figure 3 show the location and depth of each hole. All topsoil <br />verification holes were dug and measured to at least 18" as per the Colowyo Mine's PAP. <br />Drainage Reestablishment <br />The entirety of the Phase II and III area of the Section 16 Pit has been regraded to approximate <br />original contour and drains into either the Section 16 Pond, Section 16 Fill Ditch or to the South <br />Collection Ditch before reaching the Gulch A Pond. No problems were noted with the Section 16 <br />Pond or along the length of the South Collection Ditch. During the bond release inspection in July <br />2017, the SL -12 partial Phase II and III Bond Release parcels in the Section 16 Pit were all <br />inspected to ensure that they have met the requirements for drainage control reestablishment. All <br />ponds and ditches mentioned in this document are excluded from the SL -12 area because they also <br />receive runoff from areas not included in the bond release area. <br />Hydrologic Balance - Evaluation of Hydrologic Impacts Required by Section 3.03.2(2) <br />Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance December 2017 <br />Partial Phase I1 and III Bond Release SL -12 Page 6 <br />