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the Division during the technical evaluation of the bond release application before, during, and <br /> after the inspection, including: topsoil depths, vegetation monitoring data and sedimentology <br /> demonstration as required by Rule 3.03.1 and approved in the Colowyo PAP. <br /> During the Division's office review of the SL-19 application, it was discovered that reclamation <br /> parcel EP058 in the East Pit was being requested for partial phase II bond release. Parcel EP058 <br /> was previously partially phase II bond released with the issuance of SL-16, as such EP058 was <br /> removed from evaluation as part of the SL-19 bond release process. Additionally, as detailed in the <br /> Division's inspection report dated September 4, 2020, a large concentration of Musk Thistle was <br /> observed in reclamation parcel WP021 which amounted to 10.5 acres. After discussions with <br /> Colowyo,it was determined that this area will also be removed from evaluation for phase II bond <br /> release. Of the original 281.4 acres being requested as part of SL-19,238.2 acres are being <br /> evaluated for phase II bond release with the removal of EP058 (32.7 acres)and a portion of WP021 <br /> (10.5 acres). <br /> During the SL-19 bond release inspection, participants walked the bond release request area to <br /> allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements. Observations were made <br /> during the bond release inspection with regard to approved vegetation cover and topsoil depths. <br /> To determine compliance with Colowyo's approved variable topsoil depths in the SL-19 area, a <br /> total of 49 topsoil verification holes were dug during the August 2020 inspection. A total of 11 <br /> points were taken along the East Pit, 36 along the West Pit and 2 at GFO1 and are shown on <br /> Figure 2 of this document. More information regarding topsoil replacement associated with the <br /> SL-19 areas are discussed later in this section. <br /> Topsoil Replacement <br /> As stated earlier, a total of 49 topsoil verification holes were dug and measured during the <br /> August 2020 inspection prior to the SL-19 bond release inspection in order to verify topsoil <br /> depths within the areas being requested for Phase II of the SL-19 application. Colowyo is <br /> approved for variable topsoil depth placement and as per Colowyo's PAP, "Topsoil will... ...be <br /> redistributed and graded to a variable replacement depth following the general rule of thin topsoil <br /> (<6) inches on ridge tops to gradually thicker topsoil moving down the slopes to the drainage <br /> bottoms for the grazingland land use targeted areas. Sagebrush Steppe areas will ideally receive <br /> an average of approximately 4 inches of topsoil that will likely be more uniform application to <br /> encourage proper seeding depth and overall shrub establishment conditions." <br /> Navigation points were placed at random within the SL-19 bond release area in ArcGIS and <br /> those points were then downloaded on ArcGIS for ESRI Collector(Collector) prior to the <br /> inspection. During the bond release inspection, the Division navigated to the points using the <br /> data in Collector and then dug to a minimum depth of 9 inches or until topsoil was visibly no <br /> longer present. The depth of each hole was then documented and can be found on Figure 2 and <br /> Table 4 of SL-19 Findings Document. The topsoil holes were then immediately backfilled after <br /> the depth of topsoil was verified. All topsoil verification holes dug met the requirements stated <br /> in Colowyo's PAP and in the SL-19 application. <br /> Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance October 26,2020 <br /> Partial Phase II Bond Release SL-19 Page 6 <br />