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Permit Number C-2010-089 Page 3 of 6 <br />I. PROCEDURES AND SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS <br /> <br /> Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, LLC (ERMR) applied for a partial bond release under the <br />Colorado Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act following reclamation at the New Horizon <br />North Mine. The mine is located in Montrose County, in portions of Sections 25 and 36, T 47 N, <br />R 16 W, N.M.P.M.. The mine area is located in: <br /> <br />Township 47 North, Range 16 West, New Mexico Principal Meridian <br /> Section 25: W 1/2 <br /> Section 36: Portions of the NW 1/4 and the NW 1/4 NW 1/4 SW 1/4 <br /> <br /> An application for partial Phase I, II and III bond release (SL-1) was received by the Division on <br />September 24, 2018. The application was deemed complete on October 19, 2018, after the <br />Division received proof of publication of the applicant's public notice. ERMR published notice of <br />the bond release application in San Miguel Basin Forum once weekly for four consecutive weeks, <br />beginning September 13, 2018. ERMR also notified land owners within and adjacent to the mine <br />permit area, and other interested parties of the application for bond release, as required by Rule <br />3.03.2(1). <br /> <br /> No comments, written objections, or requests for an informal conference regarding the bond <br />release application were received by the Division. <br /> <br /> The Division scheduled and conducted a bond release inspection on November 6, 2018. The site <br />inspection was conducted in accordance with Rule 3.03.2(2). In attendance for the inspection were <br />George Glasier (landowner), Frank Ferris (ERMR) and Christine Belka (OSMRE). <br /> <br />No questions, comments or request for an informal conference were received by the Division <br />within 30 days following the inspection (Rule 3.03.2(3)). <br /> <br /> <br />II. CRITERIA AND SCHEDULE FOR BOND RELEASE <br /> <br /> <br />PHASE I <br /> <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) states, "Up to sixty percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released when the <br />permittee successfully completes backfilling, regrading, and drainage control in accordance with the <br />approved reclamation plan." With regard to Phase I bond release, the approved reclamation plan for the <br />New Horizon North Mine calls for permanent sealing of 3 water monitoring wells. <br /> <br />The well sealing procedures are outlined in Section 2.05.6(3)(b)(v) of the permit. The bottoms of the wells <br />were backfilled with pea gravel, then bentonite and finally concrete to within 6 inches of the surface. The <br />exact quantities for each material used in each well are documented in the well abandonment reports <br />submitted by ERMR to DRMS and the State Engineer. <br /> <br />