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Findings to Reduce the Inspection Frequency At the Sunlight Mine Pursuant to Rule 5.02.2(8)(a) of the regulations of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining, the Division of Minerals and Geology must make specific findings justifying the alternative inspection frequency selected. The findings in the following sections required by Rule 5.02.2(8)(a) are listed in accordance with that Rule. 1. The site meets the criteria and definition of an abandoned site under rule 1.04(1) and thereby qualifies for a reduction in inspection frequency. All surface and underground coal mining and reclamation activities of the operator at the site have ceased [Rule 1.04(1)(a)]. On March 4, 1987, the Division issued an order to show cause why permit C-1981-046 held by Garfield Energy Corporation should not be suspended or revoked based on a pattern of violations. The permit was revoked and the bond in the amount of $11,800.00 was forfeited on April 22, 1987 [Rule 1.04(1)(b)]. The bond forfeiture has been recorded at the Division, and entered into the Office of Surface Mining Applicant Violator System database. These actions were taken to ensure that the permittee and operator, and owners and controllers of the permittee and operator, are precluded from receiving future permits while the violation is in continuance at the site [Rule 1.04(1)(c)]. The permit has been revoked, and the bond was forfeited (Rule 1.04(1)(d)]. 2. There are no impoundments or earthen structures or other conditions that pose, or may reasonably be expected to develop into, imminent dangers to the health or safety of the public or significant environmental harms to land, air, or water resources [Rule 5.02.2(8)(a)(ii)]. The backfilled and sealed portals appear to be stable. The sediment pond is located on a relatively inaccessible steep hillside below the road, is small, is in good repair, and appears to collect little sediment. Erosion at the inlet of the pond (near the outfall of a road culvert) has been stablilized by vegetation. In the event of a breach, released impounded waters would flow down the steep brush and grass slope to an irrigation ditch at the foot of the slope, and/or thence to Fourmile Creek over a short reach of undeveloped riparian area. The upland diversion ditch (which provides protection to portions of the most recent disturbed areas) is in good repair, and if compromised, would merely permit water to flow across the (now stable) reclaimed upper portal area. The closed air shaft and two small settlement or collapse features are not easily accessed (up to 0.2 mile to the north of the road), do not constitute an opening into underground workings, do not present difficulty in exiting from them, and do not present a significant threat of falls into them. The steep reclaimed area of a former cribwall consists of very rocky soil, and this area, as well as other reclaimed disturbed areas, supports vegetation that inhibits erosion. A berm located along the perimeter of the south area interrupts runoff discharging directly into Four-Mile Creek. A majority of the runoff from disturbed areas is captured by the sediment pond and bean. The largest potential contributors of sediment are the remnant refuse and the pre-law slag piles. These areas contain no topsoil or vegetation cover.