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the establishment of vegetation which supports the approved postmining land use and which meets the <br />approved success standard for cover... based on statistically valid data collected during a single year of the <br />liability period". In regard to Phase II bond release, Rule 3.03.2(3)(b) also states, " No more than sixty <br />(60) percent of the bond shall be released so long as the lands to which the release would be applicable are <br />contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of pre -mining <br />levels as determined by baseline data or in excess of levels determined on adjacent non -mined areas". <br />Criteria for Phase II bond release included the following: <br />1. Required topsoil replacement depth of a minimum of 6 inches; <br />2. Required vegetation cover standard; and <br />3. Establishment of vegetation in support of the approved post mining land uses of rangeland and <br />wildlife habitat. <br />PHASE III <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(c) states that the final portion of performance bond, "shall be released when the permittee <br />has successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with this <br />approved reclamation plan, and the final inspection procedures of 3.03.2 have been satisfied. This shall <br />not be before the expiration of the period specified for revegetation responsibility in 3.02.3." Rule <br />3.03.1(4) states, " No bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of these Rules and the <br />Act are fully met...". The same rule goes on to state, " No acreage shall be released from the permit area <br />until all surface coal mining and reclamation operations on that acreage have been completed in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan." Criteria for Phase III bond release included: <br />1. Meeting revegetation standards for species diversity, productivity and woody plant <br />density. <br />2. Achievement of wildlife habitat and range land post -mining land use; and <br />3. Protection of hydrologic balance. <br />III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />PHASE I <br />During the inspection, 6.37 acres were assessed for backfilling, grading and drainage establishment. These <br />6.37 acres lie within the 7.76 acres requested for Phase II bond release and the 21.97 acres requested for <br />Phase III bond release. Of these 6.37 acres, 3.3 acres were associated with an access road and drill pad <br />that were transferred in 2017 to the Munger Canyon Mine's permit from the McClane Canyon Mine. The <br />reclamation work for the access road was completed in 2006. The road was blended well with the <br />surrounding area and was stable. There were no indications of erosional features. The road has become <br />very well vegetated. The regrading work for the drill pad was completed in 2006 as well. The drill <br />pad blended well with the surrounding topography. There were no concerns with stability or erosion <br />control. The site was well vegetated. Features such as slumping, rills and gullies, or surficial cracks <br />were not observed during the inspection. The access road crossed the creek bed several times. The <br />creek embankments where the road had met the creek were stable and well vegetated. There were no <br />erosional issues identified. Portions of the access road were at one point in the creek bed. There is no <br />Permit Number PEW Page 5 of 12 <br />