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supports the approved post mine land use and meets the approved success standard for vegetative cover. <br /> The Division finds that the reclaimed area subject to this bond release is not contributing suspended solids <br /> to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of pre-mining levels or in excess of adjacent non- <br /> mined areas. <br /> The landowner has provided a letter to the Division committing to conducting sound future maintenance <br /> of SPI in accordance with Rule 3.03.1(3)(c). <br /> PHASE III <br /> Bond release application No. 24 is specific to reclamation/renovation of the Goforth Stock pond to a <br /> permanent approved stock pond,known as SP 1. The operator has configured SP 1 in accordance with the <br /> approved plan. The renovated stock pond is adequate to retain water for the post-mining land use of <br /> pasture. The Division has observed the lessee utilizing the bond release block for winter pasturing of <br /> cattle. SPI appears stable with vegetated and mulched embankment out slope. This stock pond appears <br /> to support the post-mining land use. <br /> Summary and Conclusion <br /> Based upon a review of the mine permit,the applicant's bond release application, and site inspections,the <br /> Division finds that Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, LLC has successfully completed all surface coal <br /> mining reclamation operations in accordance with the approved reclamation plan and met all requirements <br /> of the Act and the Rules. <br /> IV. PROPOSED DECISION <br /> Based on the observations above,the Division proposes to approve Elk Ridge Mining and Reclamation, <br /> LLC's request for a Phase I, H, and III_bond release for the New Horizon Mine. This proposed decision <br /> will release the applicant from liability for all reclamation work on the stock pond no. 1 (SP1) and the 1.1 <br /> acre bond release block. <br /> There was no specific line item in the previous reclamation cost estimate for renovation to SPI. The <br /> Division conducted an estimate of what it would cost to conduct the work on the stock pond to bring it <br /> into compliance with the approved design. This cost estimate specific to SPI and the 1.1 acre bond release <br /> block is included with this SL24 Findings. The Division estimated work to renovate SPI was $5,675. <br /> This is the reclamation liability amount that the Division approves to release for this bond release <br /> application. <br /> During previous bond release approvals and subsequent permit boundary reduction approvals, the <br /> Division's database approved reduction of disturbed area acreage, yet, the associated"affected area" was <br /> not reduced in the database at the same time. The Division traces this error back the Technical Revision <br /> No.94. The Division proposes to correct this accounting error during this SL24 approval. The affected <br /> area will be reduced by 98.62 acres to correct the value. <br /> PHASE I,II and III <br /> Permit Number C1981008 Page 8 of 9 <br />