2025-11-19_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981019

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operations in accordance with the approved reclamation plan,and the final inspection and procedures of 3.03.2 have been satisfied. This shall not be before the expiration of the period specified for revegetation responsibility in 3.02.3." Evaluation and inspection of the reclaimed areas was based on the specific requirements of the reclamation plan and the functional requirements of the post-mining land use. Criteria for bond release included the following. L The reclamation supports the approved post-mining land use(Rule 4.16.1); 2. All areas requested for Phase III bond release meet the requirements for Phase I and Phase II bond release or have previously received Phase I and Phase II bond release approval. All contributing acreage to the Streeter South Side Ditch has either been Phase III bond released or has been removed from the watershed following construction of the Upper and Lower Section 3 Sediment Ponds approved in 2022 under TR-155 and the release of Streeter Ditch and Pond under SL-23.A grass filter,located just west of the Streeter South Side Ditch,was approved for a small area exemption under TR-155.Upper and Lower Section 3 Ponds are non-discharging structures.As-built and SEDCAD demonstrations for the Upper and Lower Section 3 Ponds were approved in 2024 under TR-164. M. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS The following discussion of observations and findings focuses on the results of the construction of a permanent conveyance channel structure, Streeter South Side Ditch,in support of the approved post-mining land use and drainage establishment as requested in the SL-25 application. During the SL-25 bond release inspection, participants walked the bond release request area to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent requirements. Observations were made during the bond release inspection with regard to approved design specifications, elevational profiles, and on the ground functionality. The evaluation of the bond release application included the bond release inspection,an office review of the permit requirements and regulatory criteria, and review of past inspection reports. Several items were reviewed by the Division during the technical evaluation of the bond release application before, during,and after the inspection,including as-built designs and sedimentology demonstrations as required by Rule 3.03.1 and approved in the Colowyo PAP. PHASE I For the 1.8 acres requested for partial Phase I,II and III Bond Release under SL-25,observations were made during the Division's bond release inspection with regard to approximate original contour and stability of the reclaimed landscape and ditch. To determine compliance with Colowyo's approved approximate original contour(AOC)in the SL-25 areas,elevation data provided on Figure 1 SL-25 Location Map was compared to GPS data collected by the Division. Eight elevation points along Streeter South Side Ditch were collected by GPS at locations specified on Figure 2. During the bond release inspection,the Division navigated to the points using the ArcOnline Field Maps application.A GPS data point was collected at each point,utilizing an Whone 13 as the surveying unit.The elevation data collected for Streeter South Side Ditch by the Division(Table 1)was compared to elevation information provided in the SL-25 Bond Release application map and shown on Figures 1 and 2 of this document. After comparison,all elevation points taken by the Division across the ditch were found to have an average difference of less than five feet from the approved elevations shown on SL-25 Map 1. Given the expanse of the mine site and the steepness of the terrain at Colowyo,the Division determined that the difference in elevation is acceptable. Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance Partial Phase I,II and III Bond Release SL-25 Page 7 of 14