2021-10-13_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1980007 ‎(2)‎

• Permit No: C1980007
• IBM Index Class Name: General Documents
• Doc Date: 10/13/2021
• Doc Name: Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance
• From: DRMS
• To: Mountain Coal Company, LLC
• Type & Sequence: SL13
• Permit Index Doc Type: Findings
• Email Name: LDS
• Email Name: JDM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

I. PROCEDURES AND SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS
Mountain Coal Company, LLC applied for Partial Phase I Bond Release under the Colorado Surface
Coal Mining and Reclamation Act following reclamation of a portion of the West Elk Mine. The mine
is located in Delta and Gunnison Counties. The mine permit area is located in: Portions of Sections 9
through 36 (inclusive),Township 13 South, Range 90 West;Portions of Sections 23 through 26
(inclusive),Township 13 South, Range 91 West;Portions of Sections 1 through 5, 8 through 12, 14
through 16, and 21 through 23,Township 14 South, Range 90 West; all of the 6th P.M.
Summary of Previous Bond Releases
Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-01 was received on July 19,2004 and requested a release of
15.19 acres for the thermal event disturbance area. The Division approved the Partial Phase I
Bond Release SL-01 on October 14, 2005 and released$79,727.00
Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-02 was received on July 26,2004 and requested a release of 5.5
acres for the Lone Pine Gulch facilities area. The Division approved the Partial Phase I Bond
Release SL-02 on November 2,2005 and released$122,629.00
Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-03 was received on May 16, 2011 and requested a release of
47.65 acres. The release included the plugging and abandonment of 74 drill holes,the
backfilling and regrading of 48 drill pads and the backfilling and regrading of approximately 8.5
miles of roads. The Division issued its proposed decision to approve the Partial Phase I Bond
Release SL-03 on August 10, 2012 and released$470,488.00
Partial Phase II Bond Release SL-04 was received on October 3,2013 and requested a release of
67.6 acres. The release included the replacement of topsoil and revegetation to control erosion to
pre-mining levels on vent shafts, drill pads and their associated light-use roads. The Division
issued its proposed decision to approve the Partial Phase II Bond Release SL-04 on July 8,2013
and released$196,037.00
Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-05 was received on February 22,2013 and requested a release
of 13.85 acres. The release included the plugging and abandonment of 24 drill holes,the
backfilling and regrading of 17 drill pads and the backfilling and regrading of approximately 2.1
miles of roads. The Division issued its proposed decision to approve the Partial Phase I Bond
Release SL-05 on February 11,2014 and released$94,475.00
Partial Phase III Bond Release SL-06 was received on December 3, 2013 and requested the final
bond release of 24.2 acres. The release included the Lone Pine area,the thermal event area and
the West Point area. The Division issued its proposed decision to approve the Partial Phase III
Bond Release SL-06 on June 12,2015 and released $69,761.00
Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-07 was received on May 1, 2014 and requested a release of
19.23 acres. The release included the plugging and abandonment of 22 drill holes,the
backfilling and regrading of 22 drill pads and the backfilling and regrading of the associated
light-use roads and road spurs. The release also included the Partial Phase I Release of the
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