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Based on Division inspections and reviews of monitoring data, the Division finds that Su^ <br />Coal Company has successfully completed all reclamation operations in accordance with <br />the approved reclamation plan and with the Act and Rules. The reclaimed azea is stable <br />and vegetated, and pollution of surface or ground water is not occurring and is not <br />expected to occur. <br />III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />Bac<~g and Gradinr <br />The Division found, at the time of Phase I bond release in 1986, that the pit area had <br />been regraded to approximate original contour, that all highwalls had been eliminated, <br />and the area was in a stable configuration. Division observations since then indicate the <br />area remains stable. <br />Topsoil Replacement Depth <br />The approved Meadows No. 1 Mine permit application package requires that a minimum <br />of 6 to 9 inches of topsoil be replaced on the regraded spoil. Topsoil depths were <br />checked in ten locations at the site on July 21, 1995. The average replacement depth of <br />all locations was found to be in compliance with the approved reclamation plan, and <br />therefore meets the requirement of Section 3.03.1(2)(b). <br />Vegetation Success <br />Vegetation was sampled on the Grassy Creek Coal Company property and the Sage <br />brush/Grass Reference Area in August 1994 and July 1995. 1994 and 1995 represent the <br />tenth and eleventh years following final seeding. Division representatives observed <br />portions of each of these sampling efforts during site inspections. Procedures outlined <br />in the approved Meadows No. 1 Mine permit application and in the bond release <br />application were followed. Reported results coincide with qualitative and quantitative <br />observations made by Division inspectors during these and other inspections. <br />The approved permit application includes revegetation success measures for vegetative <br />cover, herbaceous production, and species diversity. Cover and production are to be <br />equal to or greater than 90% of the cover and production of the Sage brush/Grass <br />Reference Area located near the mine. The reclaimed vegetation community is to <br />contain at least five perennial species with relative importance (cover) of at least 3%, <br />with all of those species together not exceeding 75% relative importance nor any one <br />species exceeding 40% relative importance. <br />The following table is a summary of comparisons of the vegetative parameters and the <br />applicable success standards. The data below is derived from the bond release <br />application, with some modifications as suggested in the Division's 1995 "Guideline <br />Regazding Selected Coal Mine Bond Release Issues". <br />Meadows No. 1 Mine 5 Phase 111 Bond Release <br />