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Bond Release Phases II and III for Remainder of Permit Area <br />Completion of 10-year Liability Period <br />Page 184 of the pernut application explains that the site was reclaimed in summer and fall of 1992. <br />Topsoil was imported into the pre-law former facilities yazd area and was seeded in fa111992. With <br />the exception of the pond, the road leading to the building, and the east yazd drainage control berm, <br />the entire site received Phase I bond release in 1996. Restricted interseeding was last done on the <br />site in 1996, and in accordance with Section 4.15.7(4), did not reinitiate the bond liability period. <br />The last reclamation completed on the site was removal of the drainage control berm in October <br />2002 and reclamation of the two alluvial wells in January 2003. The drainage control berm removal <br />and reclamation of wells aze exempt from a minirnum liability period under Section 3.03.1(5). The <br />10-year liability period following the seeding in 1992 expired in October 2002; therefore, the <br />Division fmds that the bond release blocks have met Section 3.02.3's requirement fora 10-yeaz <br />liability period for revegetation. <br />Collection and Analysis of Vegetation Sample Data <br />Pages 3 and 4 of the bond release submittal describe the methodology that Sunland used for <br />sampling vegetation in the bond release azea. Exhibits 3 through 7 contain the data. Sunland <br />collected the data in the fmal two years of the bond liability period in 2001 and 2002. Sunland <br />utilized a plan previously approved by the Division. The plan was designed to ensure randomness <br />of samples and a statistically adequate number of samples. Cover and diversity data were collected <br />along 25-meter point-intercept transects. Transects were located in each part of the disturbed azea: <br />the yard area, the former portal bench, and the former office area. Production data were collected <br />byhand-clipping vegetation in one-half squaze meter quadrat plots located along the transects. The <br />Division reviewed Sunland's methodology in the field during an inspection on June 15, 2001. The <br />sample data aze compazed to the technical standazds on pages 6 and 7 of the bond release submittal. <br />The approximate 1800-squaze foot east yard drainage control berm area was excluded from the <br />sampling because it was a drainage control structure that was reclaimed at the end of the bond <br />liability period in 2002. <br />Comparison of Vegetation Sample Data to Technical Standards <br />The dominant species were mountain brome and orchazd grass. No weed infestations or haze azeas <br />were found during the bond release inspection. Vegetative cover, production, and diversity appeazed <br />during the inspection to be consistent with the sample data in the bond release application. Tables <br />3, 4, and 5, below, show that in both 2001 and 2002, the sample data exceeded the technical <br />standazds; therefore, the Division finds that the Apex No. 2 Mine has met the Phase II and III bond <br />release requirement for revegetation success. <br />Apex No. 2 Mine Page S January 24, 2003 <br />Phases 1, II, and III Bond Release <br />