2020-07-13_REVISION - C1994082 (2)

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James Stark United States Department of the Interior OG��FSURFgCF�2� OFFICE OF SURFACE MINING Reclamation and Enforcement Western Region Office ��i�NANDENFo�G P.O. Box 25065 Lakewood, Colorado 80225 July 13, 2020 Coal Program Supervisor Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 Re: Partial Phase II/III and Phase III Bond Release Application SL -7; Seneca Property, LLC; Yoast Mine; C-1994-082 Dear Mr. Stark, This letter acknowledges the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement (OSMRE), Denver Field Branch's (DFB) receipt and review of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety's (DRMS) July 6, 2020 Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance pertaining to Seneca Property, LLC's (SPL), SL -7 partial Phase II/III and Phase III bond release application. OSMRE agrees with the proposed decision and hereby provides concurrence in accordance with 30 CFR 740.15 (d)(3) and 30 CFR 906.30, Article IX, Section 24 of the State -Federal Cooperative Agreement. This action pertains to 39.4 acres of combined Phase II/II1 bond release in addition to 315.0 acres of Phase III bond release. By letter dated October 1, 2019 DRMS invited OSMRE to attend the October 15, 2019 field inspection at the Yoast Mine; OSMRE participated in the inspection. The surface and mineral ownership associated with SL -7 is federal and private. By letter dated July 13, 2020 the Bureau of Land Management, Little Snake Field Office provided its concurrence with DRMS's proposed decision. OSMRE interprets this to mean SPL is in compliance with all lease stipulations applicable to SL -7. DRMS's proposed decision notes SPL's compliance with the approved Colorado regulatory program at Rule 3.03.1 (2) (b) - (c) and recommends approving partial Phase II/III and Phase III bond release on 354.4 total acres at the Yoast Mine. DBMS currently holds a performance bond in the amount of $1,379,988.51 which covers the entire permit area including the acreage proposed for release. Under SL -7 DRMS proposes to release a total of $377,412.21 from Phase II/III and Phase III bond liability. OSMRE concurs with DRMS's proposed decision. Thank you and your staff for coordinating this bond release action through the OSMRE Denver Field Branch. Please direct any questions to Tom Medlin, Environmental Protection Specialist, at tmedlingosmre.gov. Sincerely, Digitally signed by HOWARD STRAND HOWARD STRAND Date: 2020.07.13 15:12:14 -06'00' Howard E. Strand, Manager Denver Field Branch C: Seneca Property, LLC