GENERAL46784 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Chronolo2v of Division's Review of Bond Release Aaalication The Division's review of P & M's bond release application found the application to be technically adequate, as submitted, and therefore the Division had no technical adequacy questions for P & M. The Division conducted an analysis of P & M's hydrologic impacts. The analysis covered data cited in the bond release application and P & M's past annual hydrology reports. On December 4, 2003, the operator requested extension of the origina160-day review deadline to December 19, 2003 to allow the Division additional time to confirm the accuracy ofthe bond release amount. On December 9, 2003, upon request from the Division, the operator submitted revised figures for the acreage in the bond release area and the amount of the bond release request in order to be consistent with previous bond releases. Comments and Obiections The Division received no written objections, or requests for an informal conference regarding the bond release application. Routt County Planning Department phoned the Division on October 7, 2003 to confirm the office building next to Oak Creek is not part of the current bond release application. The Planning Department staff member expressed their concern about consistency of approved postmining land use and county zoning. The mine operator was notified of the phone call the next day during the bond release. III. CRITERIA FOR BOND RELEASE Phase I Bond Release Section 3.03.1(2)(a) states, "Up to sixty percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released when the permittee successfully completes backfilling, regrading, and drainage control in accordance with the approved reclamation plan." Section 3.03.1(3)(b) states "No more than sixty (60) percent of the bond shall be released so long as the lands to which the release would be applicable are contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoffoutside the permit azea in excess of premising levels as determined by baseline data or in excess of levels determined on adjacent nonmined azeas". At the time the bond release area was permitted, there was no requirement for the operator to submit a map or drawing of the proposed postmining topography. The permit contains an approved post- miningtopography map for the bond release azea (Exhibit 3.4-1, Sheet 2), but this map was prepazed long afrer the Goat Trail and conveyor were constructed, and the map does not show topographic contours in the bond release area. The approved reclamation plan for the bond release area calls for removal of conveyor belt structures, the lower tipple facility, and grizzly structure. Regrading is required where structures have been removed. Accumulated coal fines aze to be removed from the conveyor comdor, the fill azea along the uppermost conveyor is to be reshaped, and water bars aze to be placed along the length of the conveyor corridor. As previously explained, the Goat Trail road and lower facilities gravel pad were approved as permanent features in Technical Revision 37.