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control in accordance with the approved reclamation plan." With regard to the Phase I <br />Bond Release, the approved reclamation plan for the Marr Pit azea calls for regrading the <br />area to approximate original contour and establishing surface drainage into the <br />appropriate sediment ponds. <br />III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />The requested Phase I Bond Release area covers 96.5 acres and was reclaimed between <br />1979 and 1983, with most of the reclamation being completed prior to 1982. Some of the <br />reclamation work in the Marr Pit azea was completed during the interim regulatory period <br />between promulgation of the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA, 3 <br />August 1977) and the final approval of the corresponding Colorado Regulatory Program <br />(15 December 1980). No bond was specifically submitted for the Matt Pit azea. The <br />Operator is not requesting any monies be released in conjunction with the Phase I Bond <br />Release for the Marr Pit area, only a release from liability for the backfilling, regrading <br />and drainage reestablishment for this azea. The criteria that need to be met for a Phase I <br />Bond Release aze backfilling, regrading and drainage control. <br />Backfilling/Regrading -The Matt Pit consists of two different azeas. The first azea is <br />west of the permanent access road. This is the area where overburden was removed and <br />coal was extracted. The second azea is a small (less than ten acres) azea east of the <br />permanent access road. This azea was not disturbed by mining (no overburden was <br />removed). The Mazr Pit azea that was backfilled and regraded appears to have been <br />completed in accordance with the approved reclamation plan. A comparison of <br />premining and postmining topography maps from the permit (Map 35a and Map 37a, <br />respectively) and the Actual Reclaimed Topography Map (Map 47) shows that the <br />Operator has achieved Approximate Original Contour (AOC), in accordance with Rule <br />4.14.1(2)(a). The inspection confirmed that AOC has been achieved. There was no <br />observable cracking in any of the backfilled azeas or the azea where the highwall has been <br />backfilled. With one minor exception noted below, the Marr Pit azea was free of any <br />erosional problems. <br />Rule 4.14 deals specifically with backfilling and grading and the following aze some <br />specific observations based on this rule. <br />Rules 4.14.1(1) and 4.14.1(2) deal with the timing and methods of backfilling and <br />grading. This azea was backfilled and graded in the eazly 1980's and appears to conform <br />to these rules. <br />All disturbed areas within the Matt Pit appear to have been returned to their <br />approximate original contour (Rule 4.14.1(2)(a)). <br />Initial/box cut spoil from the Matt Pit was not permanently placed/disposed of <br />outside of the mined azea (Rule 4.14.1(2)(d)). <br />Marr Mine SL-03 3 28 January, 2002 <br />