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Introduction <br />This document presents the results of the Division's review of Blue Ribbon <br />Coal Company's request for partial bond release for their Blue Ribbon mine. <br />Blue Ribbon Coal Company submitted a request for partial bond release in <br />accordance with Rule 3.03.2 on November 10, 1986, This review was conducted <br />to fulfill the requirements of Rule 3.03.2(2) and 3.03.2(5)(a). <br />Rule 3.03.2(2) requires that the Division conduct an inspection and evaluation <br />of the reclamation work involved after a request for bond release has been <br />received. The inspection to fulfill this requirement was conducted by the <br />Division on December 10, 1986. Surface and mineral owners within the permit <br />boundary were notifed and offered the opportunity to participate in the <br />inspection. A representative of the U. S. Forest Service, Mr. Mike Ward, <br />participated as well as Laura Swatech and Henry Austin of the Office of <br />Surface Mining. Copies of the resultant inspection report were sent to <br />surface and mineral owners. <br />On January 12, 1987 a written request for an informal conference on the bond <br />release request was received from Mr. Dean Allen on behalf of his brothers, <br />Gifford Allen and Paul Allen, and himself, dba Allen Brothers Coal. An <br />informal conference was scheduled to be held in Paonia, Colorado on February <br />12, 1987 at the U. S.F.S. offices. Notice of the conference was published on <br />January 22, 1987. The conference was attended by Gifford Allen, Dean Allen, <br />Mike Ward, Jim Stover and Larry Reschke of Blue Ribbon Coal Company, and <br />Robert Liddle and Susan Mowry of the Division. The Division responded to the <br />Allen Brothers in a letter dated February 23, 1987 as a result of the <br />conference. <br />The December 10, 1986 inspection and subsequent evaluation, and information <br />brought forth at the informal conference are the basis for this proposed <br />decision. The December 10, 1986 inspection report is available for public <br />inspection at the offices of the Division. <br />Rule 3.03.2(5)(a) requires that the Division propose a decision on the bond <br />release request and provide written notification of the decision to the <br />permittee and other interested parties within 30 days of the inspection. This <br />proposed decision is subject to scrutiny by the permittee, other interested <br />parties, and the United States Department of the Interior, Office of Surface <br />Mining Reclamation and Enforcement. The Division's decision shall become <br />final within 30 days of it's issuance unless a written request for an <br />adjudicatory hearing is received. <br />This document includes the proposed decision, the evaluation, and calculations <br />to determine bond amount to be retained and released. <br />Proposed Decision <br />The Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Division proposes to approve a request for <br />partial bond release. This request was made by Blue Ribbon Coal Company in <br />-1- <br />