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Introduction <br />This document is the proposed decision of the Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology (the <br />Division) in response to a request for the Phase I bond release of the Eastside Mine, Division <br />file number C-84-063. The package contains four parts. These include: 1) procedures and <br />summary of the bond release process; 2) criteria and schedule for bond release; 3) observations <br />and findings of the Division regazding compliance with the bond release requirements of the <br />Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act and regulations promulgated thereunder; and <br />4) the Division's proposed decision on the request for bond release. <br />Detailed information about the review process can be found in the Act and the Regulations of <br />the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining. All Rules referenced within this <br />document are contained within the Regulations. Detailed information about the mining and <br />reclamation operations can be found in the permit application on file at the Division, located <br />at 1313 Sherman Street, Room 215, in Denver, Colorado. <br />The Eastside Mine was an underground mine operated by the Eastside Coal Company between <br />1984 and 1995. The surface and coal are both privately owned by Helen Christine "Nell" <br />Eldridge. The mine was reclaimed in the summer of 1995. <br />I. PROCEDURES AND SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS <br />Eastside Coal Company applied for partial bond release under the Colorado Surface Coal <br />Mining Reclamation Act following reclamation of the Eastside Mine. The mine is located in <br />Garfield County, south of Harvey Gap. The mine area is located in the NE 1/4, Section 24, <br />TSS, R92W of the 6th Prime Meridian. <br />An application for Phase I bond release was received by the Division on August 31, 1995. The <br />application was deemed complete on October 17, 1995, after the Division received proof of <br />publication of the applicant's public notice. Eastside Coal Company published notice of the <br />bond release application in the Glenwood Post once weekly for four consecutive weeks, <br />beginning September 12, 1995. Eastside Coal Company also notified land owners within and <br />adjacent to the mine permit area, and other interested parties of the application for bond <br />release, as required by Rule 3.03.2(1). <br />No comments, written objections, or requests for an informal conference regarding the bond <br />release application were received by the Division. The Division scheduled and conducted a <br />bond release inspection on November 15, 1995. The site inspection was conducted in <br />accordance with Rule 3.03.2(2). The Division notified the landowner of the inspection by <br />