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significant amounts, therefore, it is reasonable to conclude that operations in the bond release <br />are in compliance with the instream standards. <br />Impacts to Alluvial Valley Floors (AVFs): <br />Oak Creek does not meet the regulatory definition of an AVF within the permit azea. Oak <br />Creek has, however, been designated an AVF immediately north of the permit azea, <br />approximately one mile downstream from the bond release area. Mining operations at the <br />Edna Mine did not disturb the alluvium of the Oak Creek AVF. The previously described <br />absence of adverse hydrologic impacts to Oak Creek surface water and alluvium indicate the <br />essential hydrologic functions have been preserved by maintaining the geologic, hydrologic, <br />and biologic chazacteristics that support those functions. <br />Findings on Protection of Hydrologic Balance <br />All of the observed hydrologic impacts aze consistent with those predicted in the Probable <br />Hydrologic Consequences section of the permit application and the Division's Yampa River <br />Cumulative Hydrologic Impact Assessment. Based on the foregoing observations regazding <br />hydrologic impacts, the Division finds that P & M has minimized disturbance of the hydrologic <br />balance in the mine plan and adjacent areas, and prevented material damage outside the permit area. <br />The Division also finds that P & M has not caused hydrologic changes that adversely affect the <br />approved postmining land use in the permit area. <br />Findings on Completion of the Reclamation Plan <br />P & M requested Phases I, II, and III release for the azea in Section 19, T4N, R85W as shown on <br />Exhibit 1 of the bond release application (the bond release area). The Division reviewed the bond <br />release application, the mine permit, and inspected the lands. Based on the review and inspection, <br />the Division finds that in the bond release area, P & M has successfully completed all surface coal <br />mining reclamation operations in accordance with the approved reclamation plan and fully met all <br />reclamation requirements of the Rules and the Act. <br />V. PROPOSED DECISION <br />Based on the findings set forth above, the Division proposes to approve P & M's request for Phases <br />I, II, and III bond release for the above-described bond release azea at the Edna Mine, in the amount <br />of $1,002,729. There is no reclamation work remaining to be done in the bond release azea. This <br />proposed decision will release P & M from liability for reclamation work in the bond release area. <br />The Division currently holds a reclamation bond from P & M in the amount of $3,839,884. <br />Current reclamation liability is $3,839,884. The Division proposes to release $1,002,729 of the <br />bond, leaving bond and reclamation liability of $2,837,155. This amount will be retained for the <br />remainder of all permitted areas at the Edna Mine, and is sufficient for a third party to cover the <br />cost of reestablishing revegetation on the lands that have not yet received Phase II bond release. <br />The retained amount is approximately $3,800 per acre of revegetated lands covered by the bond. <br />11 <br />