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approved reclamation plan." <br /> Evaluation and inspection of the reclaimed areas was based on the specific requirements of the reclamation <br /> plan and the functional requirements of the post-mining land use. Criteria for Phase I bond release includes all <br /> or part of the following. <br /> 1. Hillslope and drainage channel gradients and general design compliance; <br /> 2. Performance of the reconstructed topography. Symptoms of failure or instabilities such as slumping <br /> or exposed highwalls were examined; <br /> 3. Hillslope design/function with regard to erosion; <br /> 4. Swales and depressions with regard to numbers of features and effect on post-mining land use; <br /> 5. Blending of regraded land to undisturbed areas; <br /> 6. The functioning of drainages with regard to knickpoints, blending at disturbance boundaries and <br /> channel erosion; <br /> 7. Erosional features;and <br /> 8. Drainage control for the reclaimed area,including upslope diversions. <br /> Colowyo's approved reclamation plan was prepared in accordance with Rule 2.05.4. Colowyo was granted a <br /> variance for contemporaneous reclamation for the East Pit,West Pit and the South Taylor Pit due to the nature <br /> of multi-seam mining. Backfilling and rough grading commenced once a steady-state condition was reached <br /> in each of the pits. <br /> The approved backfilling and grading plan for the Colowyo Mine is found in Volume 1 (East and West Pit), <br /> Volume 12 (South Taylor), and Volume 15 (Collom)of the PAP. Maps 19, 19A, 19B-ST and 19C show the <br /> approved post-mining topography, Maps 29 and 29-ST, and 29B show the backfilling and grading schedule. <br /> The pre-mining and post-mining cross-sections are shown on Maps 20,20A,20B,and 20C and the permanent <br /> drainage channel profiles are shown on Maps 33, 33A,33B,and 33C. <br /> The approved drainage reestablishment consisted of the design and construction of permanent post mining <br /> drainage channels. The post-mine channel locations are shown on Maps 41A, 41B and 41C of the Colowyo <br /> PAP. <br /> IV. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br /> The following discussion of observations and findings focuses on the results of backfill and grading in <br /> support of the approved post-mining land use and drainage establishment for portions of West Pit,north and <br /> east of the Collom Pit,and northeast of the Gossard Loadout facility as requested in the SL-24 application. <br /> During the SL-24 Bond Release inspection,participants walked the bond release request area to <br /> allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements. Observations were made <br /> during the bond release inspection with regard to approximate original contour and stability of the <br /> reclaimed landscape. <br /> The evaluation of the bond release application included the bond release inspection, an office review of <br /> the permit requirements and regulatory criteria, and review of past inspection reports. Several items were <br /> reviewed by the Division during the technical evaluation of the bond release application before, <br /> during, and after the inspection, including the post-mining topography and cross-sections of backfilled <br /> and graded areas as approved in the Colowyo PAP. <br /> Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance <br /> Partial Phase I Bond Release SL-24 Page 6 of 14 <br />