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Snell &Wilmer <br />L.L.P <br />The Clark letter attempts to support this assertion by interpreting the "license to do <br />business" referenced at 2 C.C.R, § 407-2, Rule 3.02.4(2)(b)(v)(A)~ as encompassing a license to <br />do "business with the United States," even if federal lands are not involved. In fact, a review of <br />the pertinent Colorado regulations demonstrates that the "license to do business" required by this <br />regulation refers to a license issued by the State of Colorado, and not to any license or certificate <br />issued by the federal government. <br />Colorado's regulations define a "surety bond" as "an indemnity agreement in a sum <br />certain payable to the state executed by the permittee which is supported by the performance <br />guarantee of a corporation licensed to do business as a surety in Colorado." 2 C.C.R. 407-2, <br />Rule 1.04(130) (emphasis supplied). Similarly, the Colorado mining regulations regarding the <br />form, conditions and terms of a performance bond allow as one acceptable form of bond "a <br />swety bond, in which case the bond shall be executed by the applicant and a corporation surety <br />licensed to do business in this State.... " 2 C.C.R. 407-2, Rule 3.02.4(1)(a) (emphasis supplied). <br />Sweties and other insurers are licensed by the Colorado Insurance Commissioner pursuant to <br />C.R.S. §101-108. Accordingly, the "license" referenced in the applicable bonding regulations <br />refers not to a license to do "business with the United States," but rather to the license issued to <br />Frontier by the Colorado Insurance Commissioner. Federal regulations are the same. See 30 <br />C.F.R. §800.5(a), which defines a "surety bond" as "an indemnity agreement ...which is <br />supported by the performance guarantee of a corporation licensed to do business as a surety in <br />the State where the operation is located." (Emphasis added.) <br />Frontier is licensed to do business in Colorado, and as a result, complies with 2 C.C.R. <br />407-2, Rule 3.02.4(1)(a). <br />III. <br />THE NOV RESTS ON THE DMG'S ERRONEOUS CONCLUSION THAT <br />FRONTIER IS INCAPACITATED <br />Powderhom respectfully submits that the DMG erred by equating the federal <br />government's delisting of Frontier's certificate of authority with a determination that Frontier has <br />become incapacitated. <br />Under Rule 3.02.4(2)(b)(v)(C), the obligation to replace a surety reclamation bond arises <br />"[u]pon the incapacity of a swety by reason of bankruptcy, insolvency or suspension or <br />revocation of its license ...." The first condition for incapacity does not apply, since Frontier is <br />not bankrupt, and the DMG has made no showing that Frontier is insolvent or that its license has <br />been suspended or revoked. <br />'That regulation requires all bonds to contain a provision stating that the surety will give notice <br />to the regulatory authority of "any notice received or action filed... alleging any violations of <br />regulatory requirements which could result in suspension or revocation of the surety's license to <br />do business." <br />-5- <br />