2018-02-09_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1994082

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Permit Number C-1994-082 Page 7 of 17 area until all surface coal mining and reclamation operations on that acreage have been completed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan." SPL provided documentation in the application of the seed mixes planted for the Phase III Bond Release Areas of the North and South Pits. Seed mixes used were in accordance with the approved mixes. All lands requested in the Phase III portion of bond release application SL-6 have been approved for Phase I and II bond release under SL-1, SL-2, SL-3, and SL-4. Final reclamation was evaluated for vegetation success for vegetative cover, herbaceous productivity, species diversity and woody plant density on lands designated as bond release block no. 1 (BRB-1) with respect to the Phase III bond release vegetation sampling areas. The reclaimed landscape was evaluated for evidence of erosional features. Evaluation of the post-mining land use of livestock grazing and wildlife habitat was considered during the Division’s review. Impacts to the quality of surface water and ground water were analyzed during the Division’s review of the SL-6 bond release application. III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS The bond release inspection for this bond release application (SL-6) was conducted on July 19, 2017. During the inspection, the majority of the bond release areas associated with SL-6 were observed to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements. Geo-rectified maps and GPS were utilized to verify location of permanent features and to record field data relevant to specific site locations. In addition, relevant documentation developed over the life of the operation, including information from operator annual reports and prior Division inspection reports, has also been utilized in the compliance evaluation. Such documentation is referenced in this section as appropriate. The inspection review for the SPL SL-6 application included a review of the Phase I bond release inspection reports for SL-1, SL-2, and SL-4 and the Phase II bond release inspection reports for SL-3, which applied to all of the lands included in the Yoast Mine SL-6 application. The Yoast Mine SL-1, SL-2, and SL-4 Phase I bond release inspection reports and the SL-3 Phase II inspection report were reviewed for maintenance problems identified during the inspections and were checked during the Yoast Mine SL-6 inspection. The problems identified in the previous inspections were found to have been addressed. During the SL-6 inspection, maintenance problems noted and repaired were observed and found to be stable. Noxious and invasive vegetation continues to be present at low levels throughout the areas requested for bond release under SL-6. Weeds that have historically been of concern and continue to be the focus of control efforts on the Yoast Mine site include Canada thistle (Breea arvensis), houndstongue (Cynoglossum officinale), and whitetop (Cardaria draba). The operator’s weed management program has been successful in reducing the densities of these species and minimizing expansions of populations. No noxious or invasive weed infestations or large patches of weeds were observed during the inspection. PHASE I Backfilling & Grading and Drainage Reestablishment The majority of the SL-6 Phase I bond release areas have been included in previous bond release applications and were either excluded from the submittals or rescinded back to Phase I status due to