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BOND REDUCTION REQUEST <br />Since the permit application for the Edna Mine, under the permanent program, <br />has now been approved by both the MLRD and the OSM, the area under bond for <br />the new permit includes areas also under bond for the "Life of Mine" permit. <br />Therefore, this request for bond reduction is necessary to eliminate <br />duplicate bond coverage. Also, the "Life of Mlne" bond incorporated areas <br />under bond from the two previous Colorado mine reclamation laws and much of <br />the area covered by these three programs has now met the applicable bond <br />release criteria. As a result, this comprehensive bond reduction request has <br />been prepared to eliminate duplicate bond coverage, and to request release of <br />those lands that are now ready. It is organized Into a summary of the prior <br />laws bond release criteria followed by a discussion of the various areas for <br />which release is requested. Also included are map of the mine showing the <br />areas, cross-sections of reclaimed areas and copies of the appllcable laws <br />and regulations. <br />Bond release requirements for the various areas included in the Edna <br />Mine Life of Mine Permit <br />Colorado Open Cut Land Reclamation Act of 1969 <br />The requirements of this law grew out of a cooperative agreement <br />developed by the Colorado Game, Fish an d, Parks Commission. The <br />requirements were quite simple by today(°,~ standards. Grading must <br />strike off ridges and peaks to a width of not less than 15 feet <br />with an even or gently undulating skyline as the obJective. If <br />the post-mining land use was to be range, as is the case for the <br />Edna Mlne, seeding has to be done by hand, power or aerial means <br />with the seed mixture chosen using advice from various qualified <br />professionals. There was no revegetation success criteria so bond <br />release could be sought after all the performance standards had <br />been met by the operator. Also, the permits and bonds were done <br />on an annual basis covering the period from July 1 to the <br />succeeding June 30. Reclamation was to be carried to completion <br />with all reasonable diligence. If the area could not be <br />successfully reclaimed wlthtn 10 years because of acid or toxic <br />material, or because of the texture of the material, an equivalent <br />number of acres of previously mined and unreclalmed could be <br />reclaimed in its place to satisfy the surety requirements. <br />Colorado Open Cut Land Reclamation Act of 1973 <br />(Rules Effective March 1, 1974) <br />These rules expanded on the 1969 act primarily by requiring <br />greater detail in the application on the methods to be used in <br />reclamation and the proposed reclamation configuration. Grading <br />must strike off all the peaks and ridges to a width of not less <br />than 15 feet, and to the greatest extent possible, restore slopes <br />to their original condition. No slope was to be too steep to be <br />traversed by livestock subJect to board approval. Seeding <br />