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Sun Coal Company no longer obtains water for consumptive use, and well permits for <br />three wells located in the former mine facilities area were transferred to John Eilts in <br />1993. The only impact the mine might currently have on water rights is the storage of <br />water in the three permanent impoundments. The Office of the State Engineer has <br />determined that the ponds will have no appazent water resources impact because the <br />critical reach, in terms of appropriation, of the Yampa River is upstream from the site. <br />Land Use <br />The pre-mining land uses of the pit area were rangeland, light industrial, and commercial. <br />The approved post-mining land uses aze rangeland, light industrial, commercial, and <br />recreational. Currently, the azea is used as a snowmobile touring site with potential for <br />use as a ranching operation, grazed by horses and cattle; there aze currently two llamas <br />utilizing the area. Immediately adjacent to the reclaimed pit area are a number of <br />working oil wells. <br />The azea has been reclaimed to support the approved post-mine land uses, and the land <br />uses are presently being implemented by the landowner. The landowner has requested <br />that the site be left in its current condition. <br />Summary and Conclusions <br />Based upon a review of the mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and <br />site inspections, the Division finds that Sun Coal Company has successfully completed all <br />surface coal mining reclamation operations at the Eilts pit area in accordance with the <br />approved reclamation plan, and has met all requirements of the Act and the Rules. Sun <br />Coal Company has backfilled and regraded the mined area to approximate original <br />contour, replaced topsoil in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, and has <br />established vegetation which supports the approved post mine land uses and is adequate <br />to control erosion. The Division finds that the reclaimed area subject to this bond <br />release is not contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit <br />area in excess of pre-mining levels or in excess of adjacent non-mined areas. <br />IV. PROPOSED DECISION <br />Based on the observations above, the Division proposes to approve Sun Coal Company's <br />request for a Phase II and III bond release for the Eilts pit area at the Meadows No. 1 <br />Mine. Upon final approval, this proposed decision will release the applicant from all <br />liability for reclamation work at the pit area owned by John and Allie Eilts. <br />The specific azea proposed for release is the portion of the pit area owned by John and <br />Allie Eilts, as shown on Map 1 of this document. The area for release encompasses <br />approximately 24 acres. <br />The original performance bond required for the Meadows No. 1 Mine was $1,780,000.00. <br />Meadows No. 1 Mine 9 Phase 111 Bond Release <br />