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3. The remaining sediment pond was designed, though no as-built certifications are currently on <br />file. The berm at the lower end of the site is a remnant of a former sediment pond [Rule <br />5.02.2(8)(a)(iii)]. <br />4. Erosion and sediment controls present at the site consist of the upland diversion ditch, the road <br />ditches and culverts, the sediment pond, the lower berm, and vegetation. All are functioning well, <br />and aze in good repair [Rule 5.02.2(8)(a)(iv)]. <br />5. The Sunlight Mine is located upstream from occupied dwellings established along Four-Mile <br />Creek, and a recent dwelling has been constructed across Four-mile Creek (to the south of the <br />mine). The mine is located on the north and south sides of Garfield County Road 117 (this road <br />leads to the Sunlight Ski azea and other developments) [Rule 5.02.2(8)(a)(v)]. There are no <br />remnant features at the site that pose a threat to the integrity of the dwellings or Gazfield County <br />Road (GCR) 117. <br />6. No reclamation was completed on site prior to abandonment. The Division commenced <br />reclamation of the site in the summer of 1990. Work involved sealing and backfilling the intake <br />portal, sealing the fan portal, and demolishing and removing certain mine structures and <br />electrical utilities. Topsoil was not available but the azea was seeded at that time. Vegetation on <br />the north site was minimal due to the amount of coal fines on site. Roughly 90% of the azea was <br />unvegetated. Vegetation, including significant quantities of cheat grass, Canada thistle, and <br />Intermediate wheatgrass, invaded the site along GCR 117. The south mine area contained a <br />higher proportion of vegetation including Western wheatgrass, Yellow sweet clover and <br />chokecherry. The backfill material placed on the intake portal failed in 1994, creating an opening <br />roughly 15 feet in diameter and more than 50 feet deep. The opening was repaired in the summer <br />of 1994 by AML. Removal of a failing crib wall adjacent to and on the north side of the road, <br />backfill of settlement or collapse over the lower fan portal (below the road), cleanup of <br />miscellaneous equipment and mining debris, and reseeding of re-disturbed azeas was <br />accomplished in October of 1999 by AML. The initial and 1999 seed mix included Louisiana <br />sage, Palmer Penstemon, Globemallow, Western wheatgrass, Bluebunch wheatgrass, Sideoats <br />grams, Blue grams, Basin wildrye, Indian ricegrass, Green needlegrass, and Sand dropseed. All <br />funds from the forfeited Sunlight bond have been expended by the State on reclamation work at <br />the mine [Rule 5.02.2(8)(a)(vi)]. An inspection during July 2002 found good vegetation <br />establishment consisting of Streambank wheatgrass, Palmer penstemon and Lewis flax as the <br />dominant species. Other species established, yet not as prevalent, included fringed sage, <br />orchazdgrass, yarrow, and big basin wildrye. An inspection of June 26, 2003 found Lewis blue <br />flax, Great basin wild rye, Yellow sweet clover, Westem wheatgrass, Crested sheatgrass, Downy <br />brome, flixweed, mildweed, and houndstongue. <br />7. A review of the complete (once every quarter) and partial and aerial (twice every quarter) <br />reports of inspections by the Division for the last two consecutive years was conducted [Rule <br />5.02.2(8)(a)(vii)]. Copies of these inspections are on file at the Division. During this time, a) no <br />impounded water or surface water runoff was observed at the site. b) no drainage from portals <br />was observed. c) no erosional features developed. d) no settlement, collapse, or subsidence <br />