Laserfiche WebLink
2 | Page <br /> <br />100% of the amount held for the subject parcels. <br /> <br />Colorado outlines the requirements for bond release at Rule 3.03.1 of the Regulations for the <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. For Phase II, the operator must establish vegetation in <br />support of the post-mining land use and which meets the approved success standard for cover. <br />For Phase III, the operator must successfully complete all surface coal mining and reclamation <br />operations in accordance with the approved permit. When a valid mining permit remains in <br />place, the operator may not receive Phase III bond release prior to the expiration of a ten-year <br />revegetation responsibility period. <br /> <br />This evaluation included an administrative review of pertinent documentation in support of the <br />proposed SL-14 bond release. According to the SL-14 application, Phase II vegetation and <br />sedimentology analysis was conducted in 2016 and 2017 by Cedar Creek Associates, Inc. <br />(“Cedar Creek”). The results of these analyses are included in the SL-14 application and indicate <br />the parcels proposed for Phase II release exceed the requirements for vegetative establishment <br />(cover) in support of the post mining land use and erosion control to pre-mining levels or below. <br /> <br />Cedar Creek also conducted Phase III vegetation sampling in support of the SL-14 application in <br />2016 and 1017 using the transect method for cover and woody-stem sampling and the quadrat <br />method for herbaceous production sampling. The Colowyo Coal Mine utilizes vegetation <br />reference areas as the benchmark for revegetative success. For SL-14, applicable reference areas <br />included Mountain Shrub and Sagebrush. Cedar Creek’s analysis indicates the parcels proposed <br />for Phase III release exceeded the requirements for cover, production, diversity, and woody- <br />species density counts. <br /> <br />A hydrologic assessment in support of Phase III release, conducted by AECOM, was also <br />included in the SL-14 application. Based on its analysis of flow rates in Good Spring Creek and <br />Lower Taylor Creek; the occurrence and quality of groundwater; post-mining erosion rates; TSS <br />concentrations; TDS concentrations; pH data; groundwater and surface concentrations of major <br />ions, iron, and nitrate; TDS concentrations in the Yampa River; and cumulative impacts to <br />groundwater resources related to the parcels proposed for bond release, AECOM concluded the <br />Colowyo Coal Mine has met the applicable hydrologic criteria for Phase III release under SL-14. <br /> <br />Findings and observations <br />The Team evaluated the following reclaimed parcels within the former East and West Pits for <br />Phase II and Phase III release, as indicated: <br />• EP041, 6.3 ac. (III) <br />• EP045, 7.2 ac. (II/III) <br />• EP046, 96.2 / 96.7 ac. (II/III) <br />• EP047, 1.9 ac. (II/III) <br />• EP048, 3.0 ac. (II/III) <br />• EP049, 4.0 ac. (II/III) <br />• EP050, 84.3 / 83.8 ac. (II/III) <br />• EP051, 31.2 ac. (II) <br />• EP052, 34.8 ac. (II) <br />• EP053, 17.2 ac. (II)