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noticed of the bond release application, and copies of those certified mail notices and proof <br /> of receipt are appended. A copy of the letter to Gunnison County requesting retention of <br /> the public copy of the bond release application is appended. <br /> Newspaper Public Notice: A copy of the newspaper public notice to be published in the <br /> Delta County Independent is attached. A copy of the proof of publication will be forwarded <br /> for inclusion when received. <br /> Achievement of Revegetation Success <br /> Comparison of the reclaimed areas values for total vegetation cover, total herbaceous <br /> production, and species composition with the applicable revegetation success criteria <br /> indicates whether revegetation has been successful and compliant with requirements for <br /> Phase III bond release. CDRMS Rule 3.03.1(2) provides for release of bond, "when the <br /> permittee has successfully completed all surface coal mining operations in accordance with <br /> this approved reclamation plan..." The tables below allow the comparison of the parameter <br /> values from the 2019 and 2022 sampling at the reclamation areas with the revegetation <br /> criteria to be achieved. <br /> The reports, 2019 Vegetation Report Phase III Bond Release Eligible Areas: West Bench, <br /> Sylvester Gulch, Shaft Canyon Road, and Saddle Road, Mountain Coal Company LLC <br /> West Elk Mine, Somerset, Colorado and 2022 Vegetation Report Phase III Bond Release <br /> Eligible Areas: West Bench, Sylvester Gulch, Shaft Canyon Road, and Saddle Road, <br /> Mountain Coal Company, LLC West Elk Mine, Somerset, Colorado document <br /> achievement of the applicable revegetation bond release criteria for reclaimed areas and <br /> are included in this application. <br /> A summary of the applicable revegetation success criteria and sampled values for 2019 and <br /> 2022 for Phase III bond release at the West Elk Mine follows. <br /> Phase III Bond Release Reclaimed and Revegetated Areas Reclamation Success: <br /> Total Vegetation Cover (2019 and 2022) <br /> Demonstration of revegetation success at the West Elk Mine for Phase III bond release <br /> requires that the total vegetation cover at the eligible reclaimed areas meets or exceeds the <br /> value of the total vegetation cover success criterion established from historic record <br /> sampling. The revegetation total cover success criterion is 53.04 percent. <br /> Reclamation Success: Total Vegetation Cover (2019 and 2022) <br /> 2019 Reclaimed Areas 2022 Reclaimed Areas <br /> Xbar 63.43% 67.47% <br /> S 8.90% 5.78% <br /> Number of samples 21 15 <br /> Number of samples for sample adequacy 3 1 <br /> Mountain Coal Company West Elk Mine Page 3 <br /> 2022 Phase III Bond Release Request Synopsis (SL-17) <br />