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check dams may be placed at regular intervals in the ditches to reduce flow velocities, <br /> trap sediment, and accelerate sediment deposition, allowing the ditches to silt-in over a <br /> short time interval. <br /> Retention of ditches along the partially reclaimed or modified Somerset Cemetery road <br /> will enhance the long-term stability ofthe road and these ditches will either be retained <br /> or reconstructed. Upgradient collection ditches for the coal mine waste piles are an <br /> integral pan of the design for these permanent structures and will also be retained. <br /> Sedimentation ponds will be removed unless separately approved in the future as <br /> permanent impoundments to support the postmining land use, and the associated surface <br /> disturbance areas will be regraded to blend with the surrounding terrain. Sedimentation <br /> pond reclamation will involve removal ofdischarge structures, grading ofpond <br /> embankments into the pond basins, and grading of basin and embankment areas to blend <br /> with the surrounding terrain and reestablish effective drainage. <br /> The pre-disturbance land use for this area was undeveloped land and historic mining <br /> activities. The affected lands will be reclaimed consistent with the undeveloped land use <br /> while maintaining access through the area and to adjacent public lands. As previously <br /> noted, the Somerset Cemetery, Elk Creek, and Sanborn Creek roads will be retained to <br /> provide long-term access. <br /> III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br /> Structure demolition at the Elk Creek Mine began in October 2015 and continued through the <br /> end of 2016. The work was carried out by DEMCO, Inc. of Buffalo,NY, and was documented <br /> in inspection reports throughout the period. Structural steel was cut into manageable sections <br /> and stockpiled before being shipped off-site. Concrete was rubblized and separated from rebar. <br /> The rebar was shipped off-site for scrap, and the concrete debris was pushed against the toe of <br /> the slope on the west side of the coal stockpile pad. <br /> The Elk Creek Mine portals were sealed in November 2015, by Rundle Construction of <br /> Hotchkiss, CO, with parts of the job sub-contracted to Summit Mechanical of Delta, CO. A <br /> block wall was constructed approximately 25 feet down the entry slope beyond the point where <br /> the tunnel liners were exposed and cut off,the entries were then backfilled. <br /> Backfilling and Grading of the land within the SL-1 parcels began in November 2017 and <br /> continued through November 2018. The work was carried out by Rundle Construction of <br /> Hotchkiss, CO, and was documented in inspection reports throughout the period. The removal <br /> of the Elk Creek culvert and the reconstruction of the Elk Creek channel took place concurrently <br /> with the earth work. The contractors began work at the northern end of the middle pad(i.e. the <br /> most upstream point) and progressed downstream. The last area to be graded was the East Yard. <br /> The regraded land was spread with topsoil and seeded, however the success of those aspects of <br /> reclamation are not considered during the evaluation of a Phase I bond release application. <br /> Observations made during routine monthly inspections were sufficient to verify that demolition, <br /> backfilling and grading, and drainage establishment work was carried out in accordance with the <br /> C-1981-022,SL-1 Page 8 of 19 <br />