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Public Notice
<br /> Oxbow Mining, LLC (OMLLC), P.O. Box 535, Somerset, CO 81434, (970) 929-5122,has filed
<br /> a Phase III Final Bond Release Request to OMLLC's Mining and Reclamation Permit No. C-
<br /> 1981-022 with the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board(Board),under the provisions of the
<br /> Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act of 1979. The permit was originally issued by the
<br /> Board on October 11, 1983, and subsequently renewed. The State of Colorado holds a surety
<br /> reclamation bond in the amount of$1,795,770.40 that equals the current reclamation liability of
<br /> $1,795,770.40.
<br /> OMLLC's approved permit area is located in Gunnison and Delta Counties north of the town of Somerset
<br /> and the North Fork of the Gunnison River. OMLLC's current permit area is included within areas found on
<br /> the Somerset and Bowie USGS 7.5 minute quadrangle maps and is generally described as follows: Township
<br /> 12 South, Range 90 West, 61h PM, all or parts of Sections 27-34; Township 12 South, Range 91 West, 6th
<br /> PM, all or parts of Sections 25-27 and 34-36; Township 13 South, Range 89 West 6th PM, all or parts of
<br /> Sections 6 and 7;Township 13 South,Range 90 West,6th PM,all or parts of Sections 1-12 and 17;Township
<br /> 3 South, Range 91 West, 6th PM, all or parts of Sections 1-3 and 11-13. The permit area contains
<br /> approximately 15,676.51 acres of surface lands of which 5,551 acres are on private land and 10,125.51 acres
<br /> are on federal land.
<br /> OMLLC is requesting a Phase III Bond Release for reclaimed drill pads, associated road
<br /> segments, and appurtenant surface disturbances. These reclaimed areas comprise
<br /> approximately 21.24 acres of private and public lands (US Forest Service and Bureau of Land
<br /> Management). These sites and roads were necessary for prior coal mining operations.
<br /> OMLLC is requesting a release of a total of 100% of the reclamation bond applicable to sites
<br /> proposed for Phase III bond release, as allowed by Colorado Statute and Rule 3.03. This
<br /> amount will be verified by the State of Colorado. The revegetation on these reclaimed sites
<br /> has met the applicable vegetation bond release criteria for Phase III bond release and has been
<br /> shown to meet the post-mining land uses and is comprised of predominantly native species.
<br /> Reclamation of the sites for which Phase III bond release is being requested was completed
<br /> in 2011. Reclamation included backfilling and regrading of surface disturbance,replacement
<br /> of topsoil, mulching, and seeding of the approved seed mixes. The areas proposed for bond
<br /> release have been revegetated using the methods of seeding, fertilizing, and mulching
<br /> consistent with the requirements of the private and public landowners.
<br /> A copy of the bond release application is available for review at the
<br /> Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety, 1313 Sherman Street, Room
<br /> 215 Denver, CO 80203, (303) 866-3567, the Gunnison County Planning
<br /> Office, 221 N. Wisconsin St., Gunnison, CO 81230, the Delta County Clerk and Recorder,
<br /> Delta County Courthouse, 501 Palmer St. 9211, Delta, Colorado 81416, and the Paonia Public
<br /> Library, 80 Samuel Wade Rd., Paonia, CO 81428 during the review period. All information
<br /> pertinent to the bond release request is presented within this application. Comments or
<br /> objections concerning the application should be directed to the CDRMS at the above address
<br /> not later than 30 days after the last date of publication of this notice (published 4 times
<br /> consecutively) in order to be considered.
<br /> Published March 9, 16, 23, 30, 2022.
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