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Procedures and Summary of the Review Process <br /> The SL-2 application was submitted by HGT on October 22, 2020. The application was deemed <br /> complete on October 28, 2020. HGT published notice of the bond release application in Colorado <br /> Mountain News Media-Steamboat Pilot once weekly for four consecutive weeks,beginning October <br /> 30, 2020. HGT also notified land owners within and adjacent to the mine permit area, and other <br /> interested parties of the application for bond release, as required by Rule 3.03.2(1). <br /> No comments,written objections, or requests for an informal conference regarding the bond release <br /> application were received by the Division. <br /> The Division scheduled and conducted a bond release inspection on November 10, 2020. Present at <br /> the inspection were Miranda Kawcak representing HGT, Tom Medlin with the Office of Surface <br /> Mining(OSM), and Tabetha Lynch with the Division. The site inspection was conducted in <br /> accordance with Rule 3.03.2(2). <br /> HGT has previously requested and has been approved for one bond release. Bond release SL-1 was <br /> a Partial Phase I of 11.9 acres after the loadout facilities were removed. SL-1 released a liability <br /> of$353,829.24 from the Reclamation Cost Estimate (RCE) in September of 2012. <br /> Criteria and Schedule for Bond Release <br /> PHASE I and PHASE 11 <br /> Rule 3.03.1(2)(a) states, "Up to sixty percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released when <br /> the permittee successfully completes backfilling,regrading, and drainage control in accordance with <br /> the approved reclamation plan." <br /> Rule 3.03.1(2)(b) states, "Up to eighty-five percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released <br /> upon the establishment of vegetation which supports the approved post-mining land use and which <br /> meets the approved success standard for cover... based on statistically valid data collected during a <br /> single year of the liability period". In regard to Phase II bond release, Rule 3.03.2(3)(b) also states, " <br /> No more than sixty(60)percent of the bond shall be released so long as the lands to which the release <br /> would be applicable are contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area <br /> in excess of pre-mining levels as determined by baseline data or in excess of levels determined on <br /> adjacent non-mined areas". <br /> Summary and Conclusions <br /> Based upon a review of the mine permit,the applicant's bond release application,and site inspections, <br /> the Division finds that HGT has completed backfilling, grading and drainage reestablishment at the <br /> Hayden Gulch Loadout in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. <br /> Minimal backfill or grading of the bond release area was conducted. The post-mining land use for <br /> the area is recreational use, utilizing the former train loop as a walking trail. Affected lands are <br /> 3 <br />