2023-02-16_REVISION - C1981008 ‎(7)‎

• Permit No: C1981008
• IBM Index Class Name: Revision
• Doc Date: 2/16/2023
• Doc Name: Notice of Proposed Decision
• From: DRMS
• To: Office of Surface Mining
• Type & Sequence: SL25
• Email Name: CCW
• Email Name: THM
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

1313 Sherman St. Room 215 Denver, CO 80203 P [phone] F [phone] https://drms.colorado.gov
Jared Polis, Governor | Dan Gibbs, Executive Director | Virginia Brannon, Director
February 16, 2023

Howard Strand
Office of Surface Mining
Western Region
One Federal Center, Building 41
PO Box 25065
Denver, CO 80225

Re: New Horizon Mine (Permit No. C-1981-008)
Bond Release Application No. 25 (SL-25)

Dear Mr. Strand:

The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety has issued a proposed decision to
approve Bond Release Application No. 25 at the New Horizon Mine. This decision will become
final at the close of the thirty (30) day public comment period, which commences the day following
the initial publication in the San Miguel Basin Forum. A copy of the proposed decision and written
findings is enclosed.

The Division proposes to approve Phase I bond release on 2.7 acres of dryland pasture located in
the southeast quarter of Section 6 (topsoil stockpile E footprint). The Division proposes to approve
Phase I bond release on 1.9 acres located in the southeast quarter of Section 36 that have been
reclaimed to permanent stock pond SP2. And the Division proposes to approve Phase I bond
release on 16.3 acres of irrigated pasture and 3.6 acres of dryland pasture (Parcels DP-10, DP-12,
and DP-13) located in south east quarter of Section 36.
The Division proposes to approve Phase II bond release on 11.4 acres of reclaimed pasture. 2.9
acres have been reclaimed as Irrigated pasture, parcel IP-10. A portion of this parcel requires
minor adjustment to correct an area of differential settling and the formation of a small gully. The
Division proposes to approve 3.6 acres of dryland pasture (Parcels DP-10, DP-12, and DP-13)
located in south east quarter of Section 36. And the Division proposes to approve Phase II bond
release on 4.9 acres of dryland pasture, parcels DP-16 and DP-17, located in the southeast quarter
of Section 6. The Division proposes to approve to release the applicant from liability for: all
reclamation work on eleven reclaimed monitoring wells. The Divison entered 0.001 acres into the
Phase III release catagory to allow the permit system to display that Phase III release was approved
for the wells. Eventhough the wells had no acreages associated with them in the application due
to their negligible footprint. Specifically wells GW-N41, GW-N42, GW-N43, GW-N16P1, GW-
17P1, GW-N19P1, MFBF-71, MW BF-63, GW-N-40, GW-N39, and GW-N3. As provided by