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Notice to Parties Identified in Rule 3.03.2(1): Potentially affected parties,Gunnison and <br /> Delta Counties, and governmental agencies as specified in CDRMS Rule 3.03.2(1) were <br /> noticed of the bond release application, and copies of those certified mail notices and proof <br /> of receipt are appended. Copies of the letters to Gunnison County,Delta County Clerk and <br /> Recorder, and Paonia Public Library requesting retention of the public copy of the bond <br /> release application are appended. <br /> Newspaper Public Notice: A copy of the newspaper public notice that has been published <br /> in the Delta County Independent is attached. A copy of the proof of publication is attached. <br /> Achievement of Revegetation Success <br /> Comparison of the reclaimed areas values for 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 2021 and 2022 sampling at the reclamation areas with the revegetation <br /> criteria to be achieved. <br /> The reports, Oxbow Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Somerset, Colorado 2021 Phase III <br /> Bond Release (Year 1) SL-08 2021 Reclaimed Areas Vegetation Report, and Oxbow <br /> Mining, LLC Elk Creek Mine Somerset, Colorado 2022 Phase III Bond Release (Year 2): <br /> SL-08 Reclaimed Areas Vegetation Report document achievement of the applicable <br /> revegetation bond release criteria for reclaimed areas and are appended to this application. <br /> Phase III Bond Release Reclaimed Areas Reclamation Success: <br /> Vegetation Cover (2021 and 2022) <br /> Demonstration of vegetation cover revegetation success at the Elk Creek Mine for Phase <br /> III bond release requires that the total vegetation cover at the eligible reclaimed areas meets <br /> or exceeds the value of the total herbaceous cover value calculated from the Mountain <br /> Shrub Extended Reference Area. The table below compares the vegetation cover values <br /> from the 2021 and 2022 sampling. <br /> Reclamation Success: 2021 and 2022 Phase III Vegetation Cover Results <br /> 2021 Extended 2022 Extended 2021 Reclaimed 2022 Reclaimed <br /> Reference Area Reference Area Areas Areas <br /> Xbar 11.74' 19.20' 60.53 73.47 <br /> S 7.52 7.94 8.02 5.78 <br /> Number of samples 15 15 15 15 <br /> Number of samples for 2 2 3 1 <br /> sample adequacy <br /> (1) Vegetation success criterion is the total herbaceous cover of the extended reference area (sum of <br /> graminoid and forb cover) <br />