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I. PROCEDURES AND SUMMARY OF THE REVIEW PROCESS <br />P&M applied for a Phase III bond release under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining and <br />Reclamation Act upon completion of reclamation in portions of East Ridge, Center Ridge <br />and the South of Shop at the Edna Mine. The area requested for release covers 63.6 acres <br />and is located in Routt County, 5 miles northwest of Oak Creek. The lands requested for <br />release lay within the following legal descriptions: <br />East Ridge - 37.5 acres <br />E''/z NE'/a, Section 13, T4N, R85W <br />SW'/a NW'/a, Section 18, T4N, R 85W <br />Center Ridge - 15.6 acres <br />W'/z NE'/a, Section 24, T4N, R86W <br />NW '/a SE'/a, Section 24, T4N, R86W <br />South-of -Shop - 10.5 acres <br />W'/z NW'/a, Section 19, T4N, R85W <br />NE'/a NW'/a, Section 19, T4N, R85W <br />A brief summary of Colorado's reclamation program history is helpful for this bond release <br />application. Colorado has had a reclamation law in effect since 1969 which was amended <br />in 1973 and 1976. The reclamation standards got progressively more definitive as time <br />passed. On August 3, 1977, Congress passed the Federal Surface Mining Control and <br />Reclamation Act (SMCRA). For purposes of this document, pre-law azeas are defined as <br />those lands which were mined and reclaimed prior to August 3, 1977. Interim program areas <br />are those lands that were reclaimed after August 3, 1977 until October 29, 1981, the date <br />P&M received their permanent program permit. <br />The 37.5 acres in the East Ridge Area were originally mined between November, 1961 and <br />December, 1973. The area was remined between May and September, 1980 under the <br />Colorada Mined Land Reclamation Act of 1976 (CMLRA) and Regulations (May, 1977), <br />and the Interim Surface Mining and Control Reclamation Act of 1977 and Regulations, <br />effective May 3, 1978. P&M was permitted under a•life-of-mine pertnit issued by [he <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Boazd, Permit 74-31,C/A. Final grading of most of the <br />azea occurred prior to Mazch 1981. Completion of grading and seeding occurred between <br />Mazch and November, 1981. Due to the pre-law mining activity, topsoil was not salvaged <br />and none was available for reclamation. P&M is requesting a Phase III bond release for this <br />azea. <br />Approximately half of the Center Ridge area was disturbed by pre-law road construction and <br />activities associated with pre-law mining on Center Ridge and West Ridge. Coal was <br />removed from the 15.6 acres in November, 1979 under life-of-mine Permit 74-31,C/A issued <br />by the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board. As with the East Ridge Area, state <br />regulations and interim federal regulations applied. The area was graded in September, 1980. <br />Edna Mine 2 Bond Release No. 5 <br />C-80-001 Revised April 7, 2000 <br />