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Rule 3.03.1(2)(c) states that the final portion of performance bond, "shall be released when the permittee <br /> has successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with this <br /> approved reclamation plan, and the final inspection procedures of 3.03.2 have been satisfied. This shall <br /> not be before the expiration of the period specified for revegetation responsibility in 3.02.3." Rule <br /> 3.03.1(4)states, "No bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of these Rules and the <br /> Act are fully met...". The same rule goes on to state, "No acreage shall be released from the permit area <br /> until all surface coal mining and reclamation operations on that acreage have been completed in <br /> accordance with the approved reclamation plan." With regard to Phase III bond release, groundwater <br /> monitoring wells and exploration wells have successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation <br /> operations. <br /> The 5 Monitoring wells were sealed and abandoned in a manor meeting the requirements of Rule 4.07.3(2) <br /> The 7 exploration wells were mined through during mining operations. The locations of the wells were <br /> reclaimed along with larger reclamation areas after mining was completed. There is no acreage associated <br /> with the request for the 5 groundwater monitoring wells and 7 exploration holes. <br /> III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br /> PHASE I, 11 and III <br /> Exploration Wells: <br /> Seven exploration holes were requested for release with the application. Four of the exploration holes <br /> were located in the Section 36. The remaining three exploration holes were located in Section 1. All <br /> seven exploration holes were mined through and reclaimed when the mine pits were reclaimed. These <br /> wells included N112O04-01, N112O04-02, N112O04-03, N112O04-04, N112O04-05, NH2O04-06 and <br /> N112O04-07. During the inspection, the Division used Field Maps with a georeferenced map of the <br /> New Horizon Mine to locate the seven exploration wells. Each location for the wells had been <br /> reclaimed and there was no exploration hole remaining. The sites for the exploration wells were stable <br /> and there were no erosional concerns. Due to the exploration holes being mined through. There were <br /> no markers on the surface. <br /> Backfill Monitoring Wells: <br /> Backfill monitoring wells MW BF-60,MW BF-62 and MW BF64 were located in Section 36. Backfill <br /> monitoring well MW BF-66 was in Section 6 just east of 2700 Road. Backfill monitoring well MN <br /> BF-67 was in Section 31 just north of BB Road. The five wells were sealed and abandoned in <br /> November of 2023. All 5 of the well casings were sealed by placing clean sand in the bottom of the <br /> well. The filling the well casing up to 5 feet below the surface with bentonite chips. The last 5 feet of <br /> the well casing was removed and then backfilled with native soil. The SL-28 application included the <br /> abandonment reports. The release request was just for the well casings and not the pads associated <br /> C-1981-008 SL-28 Page 7 of 10 <br />