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and deer. Birds including turkeys, owls <br />and small ground-nesting species have <br />also been observed and documented <br />using the reclaimed area over the <br />liability period. Increased forage for <br />grazing of domestic livestock is <br />demonstrated by the production data <br />collected for the rangeland and <br />pastureland areas <br /> <br />Completion of reclamation plan <br />y' 4 <br />For the area included in the release, <br />excluding the NW-1 shaft which is not part of this request, the applicant has completed <br />the approved reclamation plan and demonstrated success based on approved <br />standards. <br />The current approved reclamation liability amount is $141,892.49. Should this bond <br />release request be approved and the reclamation bond reduced, the remaining bond of <br />$72.099.00 will be adequate to complete the remainder of the reclamation work <br />required at this site in the event of forfeiture. Exhibit 19 of the approved permit <br />application contains the reclamation cost estimate as revised by this bond release. <br />VI. SUMMARY <br />The Division reviewed the bond release application, the mine permit, and inspected the <br />lands in accordance with the applicable Rules. Based on the review and inspection, the <br />Division finds that on the bond release lands, NECC has: <br />1) Applied for final bond release no less than 10 years after the last year of <br />augmented seeding, fertilizing, irrigation or other work; <br />2) Successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan; and <br />3) Fully met all reclamation requirements of the Rules and the Act. <br />Based on the observations and findings as detailed above, the Division proposes to <br />approve New Elk Coal Company's request for bond release (SL-06) that includes: <br />• a Phase III bond release for 51.40 previously disturbed and reclaimed acres <br />located at the former main facility and portal area of the mine; <br /> <br />1 :r <br />• a Phase I, II, and III bond release for 5.6 acres reclaimed at former pond <br />locations (pond 3 and pond 4);