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<br />Introduction
<br />This document is the proposed decision of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (the Division)
<br />in response to a request for Phases I, II, and III bond release at the Bear No. 1 and No. 2 Mines, Division
<br />file number C-81-033. The package contains four parts. These include: 1) procedures and summary of
<br />the bond release process, 2) criteria and schedule for bond release, 3) observations and findings of the
<br />Division regarding compliance with the bond release requirements of the Colorado Surface Coal Mining
<br />Reclamation Act and regulations promulgated [hereunder, and 4) the Division's proposed decision on the
<br />request for bond release.
<br />Detailed information about the review process can be found in the Act and in the Roes and Regulations of
<br />the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining (Rules). All Sections referenced within this
<br />document are contained within the Rules. Detailed information about the mining and reclamation
<br />operations can be found in the permit application on file at the Division offices, located at 1313 Sherman
<br />Street, Room 215, in Denver, Colorado.
<br />The Bear Mines were underground mines which were permitted and operated by Bear Coal Company. The
<br />Bear No. 1 and 2 Mines operated until 1981, and were reclaimed in 1982 and 1983. The Bear No. 3 Mine
<br />was in operation from 1981 until 1996, and is currently being reclaimed. The land within the Bear No.
<br />1 and 2 Mine areas, for which bond release has been requested, is privately owned and coal which was
<br />mined from the area was within federal coal leases controlled by Mountain Coal Company, but mined by
<br />Bear Coal Company under an agreement between the two entities.
<br />The Bear Mines are located in Gunnison County, immediately southeast of the Town of Somerset. The
<br />Bear No. 1 and 2 Mine areas, for which release is proposed, are described as:
<br />Township 13 South. Range 90 West of the 6th P.M.
<br />Section 9: SW'/a all south of the river, SE'/a all south of old State Highway 133.
<br />Approximately 92.5 acres.
<br />Section 15: W'/~NW'/aNW'/aNW'/a, W'/zSW'/aNW'/NW'/a, W'/zNW'/aSW'/aNW'/a,
<br />W'/zSW'/aSW'/aNW'/a, W'/zNW'/aNW'/aSW'/a, W'/zSW'/aNW'/aSW'/a,
<br />W'/zNW'/aSW'/aSW'/a, W'fzSW'/aSW'/aSW'/a. Approximately 33.5 acres.
<br />Section 16: NE'/a,SE'/a,SE'/aSW'/a,E'f~SW'/aSW'/a,E'/xNE'/aSW'/a,NE'/aNE'/aNW'/a.
<br />Approximately 357.1 acres.
<br />Section 20: S'/zSE'/aNE'/, SW'/NE'/a, SE'/aNW'/a, SW'/<NE'/aNW'/a,
<br />E'/zSE'/aNW'/aNW'/, E'/zNE'/aSW'/aNW'/a, E'/zSE'/aSW'/aNW'/a.
<br />Approximately 124.3 acres.
<br />Sec[ion 2l: N'/zNE'/a, NE'/aNW'/a, E'/ NW'/aNW'/a, S'/zSW'/aNW'/a, N£'/aSW'/aNW'/a,
<br />N'/zNW'/aSE'/<NW'/a, N'h_NE'/aSE'/aNW'/, N'/zNW'/SW'/NE'/,
<br />N'/zNE'/aSW'/aNE'/a, N'/zNW'/aSE'/NE'/a, N'/zNE'/aSE'/aNE'/.
<br />Approximately 182.1 acres.
<br />Bear No. I aad 2 Mitres Bor:d Release Page 1
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