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Gullies were found on the North Pit reclaimed slope during the bond release inspection. The <br />Division provided Oakridge comments regarding the repair of the gullies and other topics in a letter <br />dated January 5, 2007. Oakridge responded by letter dated January 17, 2007. These responses and <br />gully repair work that was completed in November 2007 resolved the adequacy comments. The <br />Division inspected the gully repair work on Apri14, 2008. <br />The original bond release application submittal for SL-03 requested release of $489,916 of bond. <br />The Division notified Oakridge in email correspondence on Apri17, 2008 that the amount eligible <br />for release in SL-03 was $314,909. Oakridge requested by email on April 17, 2008 that the bond <br />release request amount be revised to $314,909. <br />The Division received no written objections or requests for an informal conference regarding the <br />bond release application. <br />III. APPROVAL CRITERIA FOR BOND RELEASE <br />Phase I Bond Release <br />Section 3.03.1(2)(a) states, "Up to sixty percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released <br />when the permittee successfully completes backfilling, regrading, and drainage control in accordance <br />with the approved reclamation plan." The approved postmining topography for the bond release <br />area is shown on two maps in the permit application that were approved in TR-11 (north half of <br />permit area) and TR-13 (south half of permit area). These maps were approved based on their <br />compliance with approximate original contours. <br />IV. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS <br />Phase I Bond Release <br />Backfilling, regrading, and drainage control. The only structures associated with the coal mining <br />operations that were constructed in the bond release area were ditches, ponds, roads, and wells. <br />These structures have not been reclaimed. During the bond release inspection, reclaimed slopes <br />throughout the bond release area were visually compared to the approved postmining topography as <br />it is shown on the two postmining contour maps in the permit application. These maps specify <br />reclaimed slopes no greater than 3:1 for the North Pit, the cut slopes on either side of the North Pit <br />Haul Road, and the side slopes of the PRSA. The maps specify reclaimed slopes less than 2:1 for the <br />footprint of topsoil stockpile #2, the South Pit Drill Pad, and the Equipment Yard. During the <br />inspection, all of these reclaimed areas appeared to have average slopes that were less than the <br />maximum required, and all of the reclaimed slopes blended well with surrounding topography. The <br />locations of topographic highs and lows closely coincided with those shown on the approved <br />postmining contour maps. The reclaimed slopes appeared structurally stable, with no tension <br />cracks found at the heads of slopes and no bulges found at the toes of slopes. The observations made <br />during the inspection supported a finding that the regraded areas in the bond release area have been <br />4 <br />