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INTRODUCTION <br />Kaiser Ventures Inc. (Kaiser) is submitting this information as a request to the Colorado Division <br />of Minerals and Geology (CDMG) for a Phase III bond release for the Colorado Coal Mine No. 1 <br />(CCM #1) (Permit No. C-81-024). An area is eligible for Phase III bond release when Phase I and <br />Phase II bond release has been granted; the fulfillment of the ten year liability period since initial <br />seeding; documentation of revegetation success; proof of post mining land use capability; and a <br />minimum of five years since the last seeding, fertilization, and rill and gully repair which proves <br />that erosion has been demonstratively controlled. Kaiser believes it has met these conditions. <br />The CCM 1t1 is a relatively small surface coal mine located in Huerfano County off State <br />Highway 69, approximately 3 miles west of the Walsenburg exit off Interstate 25. The mine is <br />in Sections 25 and 36, Township 27 South; Range 67 West. <br />Reclamation of the disturbed mine site was completed in two phases. The first phase involved <br />backfilling, recontouring, redistributing topsoil, seeding, and mulching of the pit areas. Drainage <br />patterns were established and there have been no erosion problems on the reclaimed areas. This <br />phase of reclamation was completed during November 1989. <br />The second phase of reclamation involved regrading of the upper end of the upland diversion, <br />removal and reclamation of the A and B sediment ponds, and reclamation of the diversion ditches <br />which carried surface water to the ponds. Activities included backfilling, recontouring, <br />redistributing topsoil, seeding and mulching. This phase of the reclamation was completed during <br />February 1992. <br />Kaiser was eligible for Phase I bond release upon completion of reclamation. Consequently, on <br />July 30, 1990, Kaiser filed an application with the CDMG for Phase I bond release. Release of <br />$150,000 was granted on December 20, 1990. This release reduced the remaining bond amount <br />to $100,000. <br />Kaiser was eligible for Phase II bond release upon successful establishment of approved vegetation <br />species with relative cover of at least 90 percent of the reference area and erosion control on the <br />reclaimed areas. Kaiser filed an application with CDMG for Phase II bond release on September <br />16, 1996. CDMG approved the release of $62,000 of Kaisers' liability on November 27, 1996, <br />reducing the remaining bond amount to $38,000. Kaiser is requesting a complete Phase III final <br />bond release on all CCM/11 reclaimed areas for the remaining amount of $38,000. <br />The following sections provide information that justifies Phase III bond release for CCM //1. The <br />discussion focuses on the ten year liability period, documentation of revegetation success criteria, <br />capability of reclaimed areas for post mining land use, and a surface and groundwater quantity and <br />quality impact analysis. General information required for a bond release is provided in Table 1. <br />bond OS]\05).1996\Svpmmber P. 1999 <br />