Laserfiche WebLink
III. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />The following discussion of observations and findings focuses on the results of grading, site stability, <br />revegetation, and reclamation success in the Pre-Law bond release area requested. During the bond <br />release inspection, participants walked through large portions of the site subject to the bond release <br />request, to allow for visual assessment of compliance with pertinent reclamation requirements as <br />described above in Section II of this document. Relevant documentation developed over the past <br />several years is included in previous inspection reports and in Findings of Compliance documents. <br />These were reviewed prior to the inspection and are referenced in this document as appropriate. In <br />addition, Post-Mining Topography (Exhibit E), Cross-Sections of Backfilled and Graded Areas <br />(Exhibit F), and Pre-Law 2005 Vegetation Sample Sites (Exhibit G) were included in the bond <br />release application and reviewed by the DBMS during the technical evaluation of the bond release <br />application. <br />The Pre-Law area bond release inspection was conducted on September 12, 2007 by Mike Boulay of <br />the Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety. Mr. Scott Belden of Peabody Energy <br />Environmental Services West and Jay James of JEC Inc. accompanied the DRMS during the entire <br />inspection. None of the land owners of record attended the inspection; however, all land owners were <br />notified of the inspection via certified mail. Weather conditions were sunny and warm, and ground <br />conditions were dry. <br />The area (259.1 acres) to which the bond release request applies is located in the northern end of the <br />Permit Area situated in Sections 27, 34 and 35, T6N, R87W, west of the 6th Principal Meridian. The <br />specific location is shown on Exhibit A of the bond release application. The DRMS previously <br />released Phase I liability, which became final in February 2007, on the adjacent lands of the Permit <br />Area that were permitted under the SMCRA permanent program. During the Phase I bond release <br />inspection conducted in 2006 (see inspection report dated 8/24/06) a problem area within the Pre-Law <br />lands was identified due to erosion and instability, acidic spoil, and lack of vegetation. This area is <br />referred to as the Old Wolf Creek Pit comprising 67.4 acres where additional work is being done to <br />mitigate the problems. As previously described, the Old Wolf Creek Area of the Pre-Law lands is not <br />included with this current bond release application. <br />This full liability bond release inspection was conducted pursuant to Seneca Coal Company's Pre- <br />Law Area Bond Release Application (SL-02) received by the DRMS June 28, 2007. The 259.1 acres <br />of reclaimed lands are being requested for full bond liability release. <br />Site conditions with regard to pertinent reclamation requirements, including grading, site stability, <br />topsoil replacement (if applicable), and revegetation were evaluated. A primary focus of the <br />inspection was slope stability, erosion in the form of gullies or rills to the extent that vegetation was <br />inhibited, the presence of bare areas void of vegetation, and a visual assessment of weeds present. An <br />inclinometer was used to field check final reclaimed slopes at several locations to get a general <br />indication of the steepness of the reclaimed area. The inspection began at the northeast corner of the <br />bond release area at the top of the existing road that accesses the Pre-Law lands from the north. The <br />eastern perimeter was walked followed by two traverses in an east to west direction from the top <br />7 <br />