Laserfiche WebLink
The Office also determines the amount of the reclamation bond and conducts <br />periodic inspections of all permitted mining and exploration operations in the <br />State. The reclamation bond calculated by the Office for a permitted mining or <br />exploration operation is based on the approved reclamation plan. The reclamation <br />bond is posted by the operator with the State and held until reclamation is <br />completed. The Office conducts inspections to verify that the site has been <br />reclaimed according to the terms of the approved reclamation plan, the Act, Rules <br />and Regulations. The Office, as part of the application review process, determines <br />whether the reclamation plan submitted by the Applicant minimally meets the <br />requirement of the Act, Rules and Regulations. <br />Statutorily, if the Office or Board determines that the application and reclamation <br />plan submitted by the Applicant minimally meets the requirements of the Act, <br />Rules and Regulations, the application "...shall not be denied." (CRS 34-32-115, <br />and CRS 34-32.5-115) A permit, however, may not be issued until the Applicant <br />posts the appropriate reclamation bond with the State. The reclamation bond must <br />remain adequate and in good standing at all times during the life of the operation, <br />to enable the State to hire a third party to complete reclamation, if, for any reason <br />the permit is revoked and the bond is forfeited. <br />THE ROLE OF THE APPLICANT: <br />The Applicant has the burden of proving that the application submitted to the <br />Office minimally meets the requirements of the Act, Rules and Regulations, and <br />that all required notices have been posted or delivered within required timeframes. <br />THE ROLE OF THE CITIZEN: <br />Any citizen may become involved in the process either as a party or anon-party. <br />A person may only become a party by two methods. <br />1. Any person that submits a written statement supporting or sufficiently <br />objecting to the application or a petition for a hearing during the public <br />comment period is considered a party to the application process, unless <br />that person specifically states in writing that they do not wish to be a <br />pazh'~ <br />3 <br />