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For cropland productivity is the standard used for vegetation success evaluation. For the Trapper <br />Mine the reclaimed cropland productivity must equal or exceed 90% of the productivity of the <br />cropland reference azea. The cropland areas were seeded with perennial hay crop seed mixes 82-92- <br />PHC and 94-PHC as approved in the permit. The species included in the seed mixes consist of <br />alfalfa, mountain brome and pubescent wheatgrass. These species are approved by the Division and <br />support the post-mining land use. The Division approved Phase II bond release for both cropland bond <br />release blocks during SL-03. <br />TMI provided an acceptable suspended solids demonstration during SL-03 to demonstrate that the <br />reclaimed azea does not contribute suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit azea in <br />excess ofpre-mining levels. Drainages and sedimentation ponds located within and down slope of <br />the bond release blocks were not included in the SL-03 bond release application, Portions of Coyote <br />and No Name drainages and associated sediment ponds remain in the permitted area and are not a <br />part of the SL04 Phase III bond release. Portions of the West Buzzazd, East Buzzazd, and Faz East <br />Buzzazd drainages that pass through CR 82-92 bond release blocks were included in the SL04 Phase <br />III bond release. West Buzzazd No. 3 and Faz East Buzzazd ponds remain and were not included in <br />the SL04 Phase III bond release. TMI has submitted a technical revision, TR-92, to permit West <br />Buzzard Pond No. 3 as a permanent impoundment. TR-92 is still under review at the time of this <br />findings. <br />PHASE III <br />3.02.I(2)(c) The remaining portion of the bond amount shall be released when the pemuttee has <br />successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with this <br />approved reclamation plan, and the final inspection and procedures of 3.03.2 have been satisfied. <br />This shall not be before the expiration of the period specified for revegetation responsibility in 3.02.3. <br />3.03.1(3)(c) Where a silt dam is to be retained as a permanent impoundment as described in 4.05.6 <br />or 4.05.9, more than sixty (60) percent of the bond maybe released only so long as provisions for <br />sound future maintenance by the permittee or the landowner have been made with the Division. <br />3.03.1(4) No bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of these Rules and <br />the Act aze fully met, and in no case shall the total bond amount applicable to a permit area be less <br />than $10,000, in accordance with 3.02.2(3), until bond for the entire permit azea is fully released. No <br />acreage shall be released from the permit azea until all surface coal mining and reclamation operations <br />on that acreage have been completed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. <br />TMI provided documentation in the application of the seed mixes planted for each pazcel. Seed <br />mixes used were in accordance with the approved mixes. All lands requested in the current Phase III <br />bond release application, SL-04, have been approved for Phase I and II bond release during SL-Ol, SL- <br />OZ or SL03. Final reclamation success was evaluated for vegetation success for cover, production, <br />species diversity and woody plant density on the rangelands, and productivity on the cropland. <br />Trapper Mine, SL-04 Findings 5 November 18, 2003 <br />