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The Division conducted an on-site inspection of the reclaimed site on August 6, 2002. Persons <br />attending the on-site inspection were James E. Stover (Applicant), Henry Austin (OSM), and <br />Daniel I. Hernandez and Byron G. Walker (Division). Although landowners had been notified, <br />none attended the inspection. <br />II. Criteria And Schedule For Bond Release <br />Schedule <br />Reclamation is required of affected land surfaces, including direct disturbance by surface mining, <br />or indirect by underground mining, activities. Bond releases, applicable to direct surface <br />disturbances, are processed in three phases, identified as Phase I, Phase II, and Phase III. <br />However, reclamation of some surface disturbance, such as removal of water monitoring <br />features, is considered under sepazate Rules. This application was initially submitted for Phase III <br />of eligible reclamation. As some work appropriate to Phases I and II were recognized during <br />processing of the application, release for this work was incorporated into the Application. <br />A Phase I bond release applies to azeas where demolition of structures, backfilling, regrading and <br />drainage control have been accomplished. Verification of topsoil replacement may occur at Phase <br />I or at Phase II. The approval of structures as permanent features of the reclamation plan make <br />such features eligible for equivalent Phase I bond release. This Application includes, in part, <br />release of bond coverage for equivalent Phase I reclamation. A Phase II Bond release includes <br />verification of establishment of vegetation which supports the approved postmining land use, a <br />determination of whether the vegetation cover meets an approved standard, and a determination <br />of whether the level of suspended solids being contributed to streamflow or runoff outside the <br />permit azea is less than or equal to either premining levels or levels on adjacent non-mined azeas. <br />Permanent features may also be considered eligible for equivalent Phase II bond release. This <br />Applieatiorrineludes,-in part,-release ofbondcoverage foregnivalent-Phase II reclamation. A <br />Phase III bond release is appropriate when the permittee has successfully completed all surface <br />coal mining reclamation operations in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, that the <br />period specified for revegetation responsibility has expired, that revegetation success criteria as <br />defined in the Rules has been met for at least the last two consecutive yeazs of the period of <br />responsibility, and the final inspection and procedures of the Rules have been satisfied. <br />Permanent features may also be considered eligible for equivalent Phase III Bond Release. This <br />Application includes, in part, release of bond coverage for Phase III and equivalent Phase III <br />reclamation. <br />Remaining for consideration under future bond release applications are removal of the mine <br />water discharge treatment system, reclamation of the areas of four water-monitoring flumes and <br />two water-monitoring piezometers, and removal of Permit boundary identification signs and <br />disturbed azea markers. Also retained for future consideration is jurisdiction by the Division of <br />areas overlying mined regions. <br />SL-O5, C-81-025, Mazch 24, 2003 <br />Page 8 of 26 Pages <br />