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would later occur at subject sites, and did not include any costs to cover maintenance of <br /> environmental protective measures following their completion. In most cases, when the <br /> fact that forfeited bond monies would be insufficient came to light, DivIG pursued <br /> additional avenues to acquire sufficient reclamation funds. Some of these activities <br /> reaped additional monies. Some did not. In certain cases DMG was aware that the <br /> operator and/or the surety was bankrupt with no assets, or deceased. Therefore, faced <br /> with the certainty of no return on our efforts, we did not elect to pursue additional civil <br /> avenues to acquire more reclamation funds. In all cases, DMG did the best job possible <br /> to stretch the available reclamation dollars to acquire the best possible reclamation and <br /> environmental renediation at the revoked sites. Despite our best efforts, reclamation <br /> success and environmental remediation has fallen short of what is necessary at a handful <br /> of sites. <br /> Within the DMG Inactive and Active Mines Program, federal Abandoned Mine Lands <br /> (AML) funds are available to reclaim and remediate environmental and public health <br /> hazards at coal mine sites which were abandoned prior to 1979. Unfortunately, the below <br /> listed mine sites were abandoned by their operators later than 1979 and are therefore, not <br /> eligible for federal AML funds. With approval of the amendment to CSMCRA by the <br /> Colorado General Assembly and an appropriation of severance tax monies, the AML <br /> Program within the Division would administer the additional necessary reclamation or <br /> maintenance activities at the selected revoked coal mine sites. <br /> Program/Project Objectives: Conduct additional necessary reclamation and maintain <br /> environmental remediation measures at revoked coal mine sites. <br /> Performance Measures: During the first year the highest priority projects would be <br /> commenced. During the following two years projects will continue, as needed, and lower <br /> priority projects would be commenced and completed. Large projects could take up to <br /> three years to complete. We,therefore, request that appropriated funds be made available <br /> for a three year period. Most reclamation and maintenance work will be bid out to <br /> private contractors. Bidding and letting of several contracts will take considerable time. <br /> The contracted work must then occur during the appropriate construction or reclamation <br /> season(s). Following completion of contracted activities, the ultimate success of those <br /> activities must be evaluated through at least one growing season, in most cases. <br /> Therefore, we request that funds would be appropriated for a three year period, rather <br /> than one. Funds which are not encumbered within three years would revert to the <br /> severance tax fiend. Based on the amount of the final appropriation, and in descending <br /> priority order, the specific projects and locations would include the following: <br /> Hawk's Nest Mine, Gunnison County - approx. $30,000 y <br /> Control of noxious weeds, erosion control, soil amendment and <br /> revegetation, removal and disposal of debris and hazards. <br /> Arness-McGriffin Mine, La Plata County - approx. $5,000 <br /> Reconstructed drainage channel erosion control, erosion of access road. <br /> GEC Mine, Fremont County - approx. $50,000 <br /> Constructed diversion erosion control, soil amendment and revegetation. <br />