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Bond Release - 4 - Revised November 17, 2017 <br />Revised January 19, 2018 <br />Vegetation has flourished since initial reclamation efforts in 2008 & 2009. The permit criterion for <br />Phase II success is 40% total plant cover, and according to a 2016 vegetation study, total plant cover <br />is 53%. <br />All reclamation work has been performed in accordance with plans approved by the Division of <br />Reclamation Mining and Safety. <br />17. Documentation of successful establishment of vegetation: A vegetation study performed by Cedar <br />Creek and Associates is attached. Success criterial for Phase II bond release state that total plant <br />cover must exceed 40%, which the report documents has been achieved. <br />18. Topsoil: The permit does not contain a topsoil replacement plan, and very little topsoil was available <br />for salvage. Section 2.04.9(1) references permit section 2.05.3(3)(b) which states "...the excavation <br />work at the mine site was completed by mid -1976. At that time, no regulation governing the <br />removal, stockpiling and replacement of topsoil was in effect. Because of the extremely steep slopes <br />of the mine site, no topsoil was removed, stockpiled or replaced. However, topsoil that was <br />available, was spread evenly across the site". See Figure 1 which shows the topsoil distribution area <br />as well as the areas excluded from the topsoil distribution areas. <br />19. Levels of Total Suspended Solids: Technical Revision Nos. 58 and 62 provided for the approval of the <br />removal of sediment ponds 1-4, the gob pile pond, and the run of mine pond. The revisions <br />document that the untreated drainage from the reclaimed areas contribute less suspended solids to <br />the streamflow outside of the permit area than adjacent non -disturbed areas. Ponds 1-4, the gob <br />pile pond, and the run of mine pond are scheduled to be reclaimed in the summer of 2017 and their <br />locations are shown on Figures 1 and Figure 3 (ROM Pond). <br />20. Copies of the written notice to seek release to parties identified in Rule 3.03.2(1): <br />A Certificate of Service which documents the notices required under Rule 3.03.2(1) have been <br />mailed is enclosed. <br />21. Copy of newspaper advertisement: Proof of publication of the public notice of the partial bond <br />release should be available in about four to five weeks. <br />Additional Notes: <br />A spreadsheet summary of items requested for Partial Bond Release is attached as Exhibit 1; the task <br />number, description and amount of requested release is included. <br />Task No. 125 is for the plugging and sealing of all boreholes. Of Bowie No. 1's 74 total boreholes, 25 are <br />included in this partial bond release request, which is approximately thirty-five percent (35%) of the total <br />amount. Figure 2 shows the location of the boreholes requested for release, Exhibit 2 is an Excel <br />Spreadsheet summary of the Drill Holes being requested for release. <br />Phase I release was obtained on 49.33 acres at the East Mine for SL04 in 2013. Included in the 49.33 acres <br />was the gob pile pond, which was not reclaimed until 2016. Therefore, the 49.33 acres is being reduced by <br />the gob pile pond acreage (49.33-0.45) to obtain 48.88 acres requested for Phase II release. In addition, the <br />gob pile pond acreage should not be added to the total phase I release area for SL -06 since it has already <br />