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BRL requested bond release for the sealing of rock slope entries and two associated culverts. Since the <br />rock slope tunnels were never constructed, this last request is being handled as a bond reduction rather <br />than as a bond release. <br />The power line that led from the East Mine to the West Mine was dismantled and removed from the mine <br />site. The Delta-Montrose Electric Association buried the power line along the mine road that leads from <br />the crusher/screener bench to the office bench. <br />The guard shack superstructure was demolished and either salvaged or buried on site. The concrete floor <br />remains, however. <br />COAL AND COAL WASTE REMOVAL <br />BRL requested that the bond be released at three sites for the disposal of coal and coal waste. This bond <br />release request included the bottom one foot deep layer of coal at the highway temporary coal stockpile <br />and the entire volume of coal waste at the run-of--mine (ROM) coal waste stockpile and at the East Mine <br />temporary waste stockpile. The removal of the coal at the highway temporary coal stockpile was <br />documented in the Division's inspection report dated December 4, 2000. The coal was actually shipped <br />out, rather than being placed in an approved waste site. However, the waste material at the temporary <br />waste stockpile at the East Mine and the coal waste at the ROM stockpile remain. <br />A review of the Division's previous inspection reports showed that there have not been any compliance <br />problems at the sites proposed for bond release. The sediment control systems at both the East Mine and <br />at the West Mine are functional. At the West Mine, only on a few occasions has there been standing water <br />in the two sediment ponds, and always below the primary discharge tubes. The NPDES permit records <br />show that there have never been any pond discharges at the West Mine. Occasionally, silt fence needs to <br />be repaired but no offsite sediment problems have been observed. At the East Mine, the sediment control <br />system has been operating in compliance for many years. <br />The Division's review of the Annual Hydrology Reports for the Bowie No. 1 Mine have never indicated <br />any water quality or quantity issues over the years with the West Mne and the East Mine. <br />SUMMARY AND FINDINGS OF COMPLIANCE <br />The Division has completed its review and evaluation of the partial Phase One Bond Release request <br />submitted by BRL for the Bowie No. ]Mine. The Division finds that structural demolition and disposal at <br />both the East Mine and at the West Mine and backfilling and grading work and drainage control at the <br />West Mine, for those areas specified in the Division's Proposed Decision and Findings of Compliance for <br />the Partial Phase One Bond Release (SL-02) have been successfully performed in compliance with the <br />reclamation plan that was approved in the Bowie No. l Mine permit application and with the Regulations <br />of the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining and the Colorado Surface Coal Mining <br />Reclamation Act. The Division's findings are based on the evaluation of the information supplied in <br />BRL's SL-02 bond release submittal, as well as on information gathered in the bond release field <br />inspections, previous Feld inspections and water monitoring data. <br />In addition, based on an evaluation of the reclamation work and the associated costs that remain at the <br />Bowie No. I Mine, the Division has determined that a total of $1,143,807 can be released through this <br />partial Phase One Bond Release. Of this total, the Division proposes to release $434,803 at the East Mine, <br />which is 15 percent of the total reclamation liability for that area, and $709,004 at the West Mine, which <br />is 60 percent of the total reclamation liability for that area. <br />I2 <br />