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8 <br />PHASE III <br />Rule 3.03.1(2)(c) states that the final portion of performance bond. "shall be released when the <br />permittne has successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan, and the final inspection procedures of 3.03.2 <br />have been satisfied. This shall not be before the expiration of the period specified for <br />reveeetation responsibility in 3.02.3." Rule 3.03.1(4) states, " No bond shall be fully released <br />until all reclamation requirements of these Rules and the Act are fully met." The same rule goes <br />on to state, " No acreage shall be released from [he permit area until all surface coal mining and <br />reclamation operations on that acreage have been completed in accordance with the approved <br />reclamation plan." <br />The Energy Mine No. 3Post-mining Topography Map 12, dated December 13, 1983, shows the <br />approved post-mining contours at Energy Mine No. 3. Phase I bond release was partially <br />approved for the Energy Mine No. 3 area on July18, 1987. No problems were identified with the <br />post-mining contours of Energy Mine No. 3 during the 1987 release. The remainder of the <br />Phase I reclamation liability was addressed through a subsequent bond reduction, approved on <br />March 7. 1988. <br />The Energy Mine No. 3 disturbed area was seeded with a pastureland seed mix. A description of <br />the pastureland seed mix used on the Energy Mine Alo. 3 azea vvas submitted with the Bond <br />Release Application as Table A, and is in agreement with approved permit Table 44. Energy <br />Mine No. 3 disturbed areas were seeded in 1978, 1979, 1983, 1934, 1986 and 1987. <br />The post-mining land use has been approved as pastureland. Colorado Yampa Coal Company <br />has grazed Energy Mine No. 3 regularly as a part of their cattle operation since 1989. The annual <br />productivity recovery of the vegetation following grazing and the lack of excessive erosional <br />features indicate the reclaimed azea is capable of supporting pastureland use. Implementation of <br />the post-mining land use verifies that the reclaimed land is capable of stpporting the post-mining <br />land use. <br />III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />PHASEI <br />Pre-mining Topography Map 11 depicts general topography and drainage density existing prior <br />to permitting Energy Mine No. 3 under the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act. <br />Map 11 depicts disturbance areas existing as of September 1, 1980. Some of the pre-1980 <br />disturbance areas are covered under this bond release application (SL-02). Re-established <br />drainage densities and locations appear analogous to drainage densities depicted in Map 12, Post- <br />mining Topography. <br />Colorado Yampa Coal Compam~: Minr No. 3, SLO? Findines 6/99 a:\C08~06?OSLO?rnd doc <br />