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I. Introduction <br /> This document is the proposed decision and findings of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and <br /> Safety (the Division), in response to a request for Phase I, II and III bond release at the Williams Fork Mine, <br /> operated by Moffat County Mining LLC(MCM),Division permit number C-1981-044. With this application, <br /> MCM originally requested Phase I,II and III bond release over 305.7 acres. Over the course of the permitting <br /> action becoming finalized,a Technical Revision(TR38),was required requesting permanent pond status. Also, <br /> in TR38,updates were also made to the reclamation plan and to the affected acreage. The update to affected <br /> land acreage resulted in an increase of those acres,primarily based on more accurate mapping tools,particularly <br /> aerial reconnaissance, and geospatial mapping. Affected acres increased in the Strip Pit bringing those total <br /> acres to 107.8 as illustrated in revised Map 1 SL4 Bond Release Location Map. When two out of the three <br /> ponds requested for permanent status was granted, a 0.2 acre withdrawal was made by MCM. Total acres <br /> requested for SL4 was revised from the 305.7 acres originally requested to 323.70 acres as per Table 1 below. <br /> The findings comprises the following five parts: <br /> 1. Introduction <br /> 2. Procedures and summary of the bond release process <br /> 3. Criteria and schedule for bond release <br /> 4. Written observations and findings of compliance the Division prepared as required by the Colorado <br /> Surface Coal Mining and Reclamation Act. <br /> 5. The Division's proposed decision. <br /> Background Information Sources <br /> Detailed information about the review process can be found in the Act and the Regulations of the Colorado <br /> Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. All Rules referenced are contained within the Regulations <br /> and in the Guideline Re a� rdin Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues, dated April 18, 1995. All rules <br /> referenced within this document are contained within the Regulations, unless otherwise noted. Detailed <br /> information about the mining and reclamation operations at Williams Fork mine are available in the Mine <br /> Permit Application Package, on file at the Division offices (1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, Denver, <br /> Colorado)and accessible on the Division web site: btli2s:Hdnrweblink.state.co.us/drms/ <br /> Location of Williams Fork Mine <br /> The Williams Fork Mines are an underground and part surface coal mine, permitted and operated by Moffat <br /> County Mining, LLC. The Williams Fork Mines were formerly operated by Empire Energy Corporation, <br /> Cyprus Empire Corporation,RAG Empire Corporation,and BTU Empire Corporation,LLC. The mines were <br /> formerly known as the Eagle No. 5 and No. 9 Mines, as well as the Eagle Mine Complex. The site is not <br /> actively mined and is undergoing final reclamation. The ownership of the land for which bond release has <br /> been requested is federal, state and private,and the coal ownership was federal, state and private. <br /> Permit Number C1981044 Page 2 of 25 <br />