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Items Approved for Permanent Retention <br />The only structures approved for permanent retention are the main asphalt-surfaced haul road, the <br />culverts underneath that road, and the North Pit road. A dirt two-track road that extends up the hill <br />along the north edge of the former South Pit area is to remain as a permanent feature. This road is on <br />the coal/minerals permit boundary. <br />Submittal of Bond Release Application and <br />Completeness Determination by the Division <br />The Division received Oakridge's bond release application SL-03 on August 28, 2006 and found the <br />application complete on October 12, 2006, after the Division received proof of publication of the <br />applicant's public notice. The completeness determination was made in accordance with Section <br />3.03.2(1)(d). <br />Oakridge submitted the bond release application following the procedures described in the Act and <br />the Regulations. The application also utilizes the Division's Guideline Regarding Selected Coal <br />Mine Bond Release Issues, dated April 18, 1995. <br />Public Notice <br />Oakridge published notice of the bond release application in the Durango Herald once weekly for <br />four consecutive weeks, beginning on August 31, 2006. Oakridge also notified landowners within <br />and adjacent to the mine permit area and other interested parties of the application for bond release, <br />as required by Section 3.03.2(1). <br />Bond Release Inspection <br />The Division conducted a bond release inspection on November 7, 2006. The site inspection was <br />conducted in accordance with Section 3.03.2(2). Tom Kaldenbach represented the Division. <br />Michael S. Savage, of Savage and Savage Environmental, represented the operator. Oakridge owns <br />all of the land surface in the bond release area. The Division notified the Office of Surface Mining <br />of the bond release inspection, but they did not attend. The Division's inspection report is on file at <br />the Division's Denver office. The inspection was conducted in accordance with Section 3.03.2(2). <br />The inspection focused on completion of backfilling, grading, drainage re-establishment, erosional <br />stability, slope stability, and success of the work. <br />Technical Review <br />The Division reviewed technical aspects of Oakridge's bond release submittal in order to determine <br />if the requested bond release is warranted. The review considered the requirements of Oakridge's <br />approved reclamation plan and the regulatory requirements for bond release. The Division <br />conducted an analysis of hydrologic impacts related to the bond release area. The analysis <br />considered Oakridge's past annual hydrology reports and the Division's inspection observations. <br />3 <br />