2018-10-18_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981019

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Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance October 2018 Partial Phase II and III Bond Release SL-14 Page 11 224.6 acres (4.5%) and resulted in an average of 894 woody plants per acre. The 2017 sample data successfully exceeds 150 woody plants per acre on 3% of the reclaimed area as required by Section 4.15.8 in Coloyo’s PAP. Post-mining Land Use The post-mining land use at the Colowyo mine is rangeland and wildlife habitat. The Phase III Bond Release areas requested with the SL-14 application were walked during the inspection. While Colowyo has not used the reclaimed lands for domestic livestock grazing, there is a large resident elk herd that uses the reclaimed lands extensively. There are also several smaller herds of deer and pronghorn that use the reclaimed East and West Pit. The wildlife use includes grazing (including winter grazing) and calving areas. Wildlife While no wildlife was observed at the East and West Pit reclamation parcels during the inspection, previous inspections have documented sage grouse, large herds of elk as well as deer and pronghorn in the area on a regular basis. Hydrologic Balance - Evaluation of Hydrologic Impacts Required by Section 3.03.2(2) Rule 3.03.2(2) requires the Division to evaluate hydrologic impacts prior to releasing reclamation lability. This evaluation must consider whether pollution or surface or subsurface water is occurring and the probability of future occurrence with such pollution. The Division’s evaluation is summarized below. Ground Water Impacts Colowyo maintains three wells in the surrounding area of the SL-14 reclamation parcels that have been monitored: the North Good Spring Well, the Gossard Well and A-6 Well. The A-6 Well represent the ground water conditions upgradient from the mining areas while the North Good Spring Well and Gossard Well represent conditions immediately below the mining area in the Section16 Pit. The North Good Spring Well and Gossard Well are alluvial wells located immediately down gradient of the SL-14 parcels in the East and West Pit area. The A-6 Well is located further south along the Good Springs Creek. Observations of the data from the North Good Springs Well indicate that over time, water elevations have fluctuated with a slight decreasing trend beginning around 2003. This trend is shown on Figure 6 in the report titled “East and West Pit Area Phase III Bond Release Hydrological Assessment” of the SL-14 application. However, the average groundwater level from pre-mining to post-mining conditions only differs approximately 0.6 feet and mimics the fluctuation trends shown with the A6 Well. Groundwater levels for the Gossard