Laserfiche WebLink
of distrubed area were reclaimed in 1987. A 2.06 acre temporary impoundment was reclaimed <br />in 1991. The remaining two ponds have been approved as permanent impoundments. <br />Reclamation success will be determined by statistical compazison of reclaimed areas to approved <br />reference areas. Mine personnel sampled vegetation cover in 1989, 1990 and in 1991 as part of <br />a phase II bond release demonstration. The 1979 - 1981 reclaimed areas had between 77% and <br />98% cover and the 1987 reclaimed area had between 77% and 87% total ground cover. Durinc <br />the phase 11 bond release, the Division calculated, using the computer aided design program <br />Sedcad, that erosion would be less on the reclaimed site than would have occurred at the site <br />prior to mining. <br />The reclaimed mine site was mulched at the rate of 80 yd'/acre. The mulch was made up of <br />wood chips applied using a manure spreader. The chips were applied to get a cover of 50% to <br />70%. <br />The coal loadout located in Walden, next to the rail yard, was reclaimed as approved in the <br />reclamation plan. About 1,500 cubic yards of coal pad material was removed and backfilled in <br />the pit. The surface was regraded to provide positive drainage to the low area on the south end <br />of the loadout. The area was not seeded and conforms with its premining and post mining land <br />use as an industrial site free of coal fines. During the summer of 1996, the surface owner of the <br />load-out and rail line, Colorado and Wyoming Rail Road, commenced demolition of the rail line. <br />The Walden load-out was used for storage of rail ties. Slurco has no liability for disposition of <br />the work associated with the rail demolition. <br />Bonding History <br />On September 26, 1988 the Division granted Wyoming Fuels, the previous permittee, a phase I <br />bond release for the backfilling and grading that had been completed at the Canadian Strip Mine. <br />The Division released 60% or $447,870.00 of the total $746,450.00 reclamation bond. <br />Wyoming Fuels, the previous permittee, requested a phase II bond release in the Spring of 1990. <br />The Division issued a proposed decision to approve the release but, after receiving objections <br />from the OSM, the Division rescinded its decision. On August 1, 1991 the Division reissued the <br />proposed decision for a phase II bond release. At that time the OSM concerns were largely <br />satisfied with the single exception that OSM objected to pond No. 2 as permanent impoundment. <br />On March 20, 1992 the OSM Western Field Office concluded that pond No. 2 met the criteria <br />for a permanent impoundment. On April 21, 1992 the Division received a notice of concurrence <br />from OSM for phase 1[ bond release for a portion of the Canadian Strip Mine known as mine <br />plan areas "phase [, [I, and [II". The Division approved bond liability release of $63,448.00. <br />Canadian Strip Mine, C-81-026 12 December 5, 1996 <br />