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Notification of the proposed bond release was posted in the Craig Press for four consecutive <br /> weeks, beginning June 21, 2019 and ending July 12, 2019, and the Rio Blanco Herald Times <br /> from June 20, 2019 to July 11, 2019. The parcel proposed for Phase I bond release was reclaimed <br /> in 2014. The parcels proposed for Phase II bond release were reclaimed between 2011 and 2014. <br /> The structures proposed for Phase I, II, and III bond release are permitted as permanent features <br /> in support of the postmining land use at the request of the landowner. Tri-State currently posts a <br /> self-bond in the amount of$108,025,721 (SB-01 1) which covers the entire mine site including <br /> the above listed areas. With this application, Tri-State requests the maximum bond release for <br /> Phase I, or 60% of the amount held for the subject parcels; 25% of the base bond held for Phase <br /> II parcels; and 100% of the bond associated with the proposed Phase I, II, and III release. <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 I, up to 60% of the applicable bond amount <br /> shall be released when the permittee successfully completes backfilling, regrading (which may <br /> include the replacement of topsoil and seeding), and drainage control in accordance with the <br /> approved reclamation plan. <br /> For Phase II, up to 85% of the applicable bond amount shall be released upon the establishment <br /> of vegetation which supports the approved postmining land use and which meets the approved <br /> success standard for cover, based on statistically valid data collected during a single year of the <br /> liability period. <br /> For Phase 111, the remaining portion of the bond amount shall be released when the permittee has <br /> successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with the <br /> approved reclamation plan and not before the expiration of the revegetation responsibility period. <br /> Findings <br /> The Team began the inspection by walking the entire length of the East Side Collection Ditch. <br /> The on-contour East Side Collection Ditch was gently graded, between 1 and 3% approximately, <br /> and supports the rangeland PMLU by diverting runoff to the permanently-retained Gulch A Pond <br /> for livestock watering. All upland areas which contribute runoff to the ditch are either Phase III <br /> released or treated through an approved small area exemption (SAE). The ditch was very well <br /> vegetated, stable, and no signs of erosion were noted. See Figure 1. <br /> The Team next evaluated East Pit parcel EP058 against both Phase I and Phase II bond release <br /> criteria. The Phase I inspection was limited to a small, 3.3 acre "island"within EP058 while the <br /> remaining 32.8 acres of EP058 were evaluated against Phase II criteria. To verify backfill and <br /> grading to approximate original contour, two elevation readings were taken within the 3.3 acre <br /> portion. The 3.3 acre area blended with the surrounding topography and no signs of instability, <br /> remaining highwall, or erosion were noted. See Figure 2. The 32.8 acre portion of EP058 <br /> likewise demonstrated suitability for Phase II bond release: on-the-ground conditions were <br /> generally as described in the vegetative cover sampling and sedimentology demonstration data <br /> included in the SL-16 application. See Figure 3. <br /> Two parcels within the reclaimed South Taylor Pit, ST002 (4.6 acres) and ST003 (1.1 acres) <br /> 2 1 P a g e <br />