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Permit Categories. The Minerals Program of the Division issues the following categories of <br />reclamation permits for mining operations, pursuant to and named after sections 34-32 and 34- <br />32.5 of the Colorado Revised Statutes: <br />110 Permits, for less than 10 acres of disturbed area; <br />111 Special Operations Permits, expedited permits for construction materials only and <br />used solely for road, utility, or similar construction purposes under a governmental <br />contract, and disturbing less than 30 acres; and <br />112 Regular Permits, for operations disturbing 10 or more acres. <br />Permit Consideration and Bonding. Statutorily, if the Division or the Board determines that a <br />reclamation permit application, including the reclamation plan, minimally meets the <br />requirements of the Acts and its associated rules and regulations, the application "...shall not be <br />denied." (CRS 34-32-115(4) and 34-32.5-115(4)). A permit, however, may not be issued until <br />the applicant posts the appropriate reclamation bond and "pertormance warranty" with the State <br />of Colorado. A reclamation bond is also referred to as a "financial warranty." The purpose of <br />posting a bond is to ensure that the State of Colorado can hire a third party to complete <br />reclamation if, for any reason, the permit is revoked and the bond is forfeited. For this reason, <br />the reclamation bond must remain adequate and in good standing at all times during the life of <br />the operation. The amount of the bond can be reduced as land is reclaimed, and it can be <br />increased under certain circumstances. <br />Permit Life. If an application fora 112 Reclamation Permit is approved by the Board or the <br />Division, the approved permit is for the life of the mining operation (life of the mine) since <br />permits do not have an expiration date. Dependent upon the extent of the deposit mined and <br />the rate of extraction, mining operations may last from only a few months to decades. The <br />permit may be revoked and the reclamation bond forfeited to the State of Colorado only by an <br />action of the Board. Revocation and forfeiture may occur due to an uncorrected violation of the <br />Acts, the rules and regulations, or the terms of the approved permit. <br />THE ROLE OF THE MINED LAND RECLAMATION t3OARD <br />The Mined Land Reclamation Board is amulti-interest citizen board which establishes the <br />regulations, standards, and policies that guide the Division of Minerals and Geology. The state <br />governor appoints five board members from nominations submitted by each of the various <br />constituencies represented, resulting in two members with significant experience in the mining <br />industry, two with conservation and environmental resources experience, and one representing <br />agriculture. A sixth board member is the Executive Director of the Department of Natural <br />Resources, or his appointee; and the seventh is a member of the State Soil Conservation <br />Board. The state senate must approve the board members selected by the state governor. <br />Once appointed, each board member serves a term of four years. Board members may be <br />reappointed after their four-year terms expire. <br />The Board normally meets for one to two days every month to carry out its duties. Some of the <br />Board's responsibilities include: promulgating rules and regulations that implement the Acts; <br />issuing violations, setting civil penalties, issuing cease and desist orders, and determining <br />corrective actions for operators found in violation; conducting hearings regarding disputed <br />2 <br />