2008-12-02_GENERAL DOCUMENTS - C1981010

Home Browse Search

accordance with the approved reclamation plan." With regard to Phase I bond release, TMI applied for a partial phase I bond release of 2511.7 acres with SL-01, 823.9 acres with SL-05, and 476.6 acres with SL-08. SL-01 was approved on February 12, 1998, SL-05 was approved on June 11, 2004, and SL-08 was approved on November 4, 2008. Phase II Bond Release Rule 3.03.1(2)(b) states, "Up to eighty-five percent of the applicable bond amount shall be released upon the establishment of vegetation which supports the approved postmining land use and which meets the approved success standard for cover based on statistically valid data collected during a single year of the liability period". In regard to Phase II bond release, Rule 3.03.2(3)(b) also states, "No more than (60) percent of the bond shall be released so long as the lands to which the release would be applicable are contributing suspended solids to streamflow or runoff outside the permit area in excess of premining levels as determined by baseline data or in excess of levels determined on adjacent nonmined areas". With regard to Phase II bond release, TMI applied for a partial phase II bond release of 1548.0 acres with SL-01, 319.5 acres with SL-02, 592.7 acres with SL-03, and 830.8 acres with SL-06. SL-01 was approved on December 14, 1998, SL-02 was approved on December 23, 1999, SL- 03 was approved on April 19, 2002, and SL-06 was approved on October 12, 2004. IV. OBSERVATIONS AND FINDINGS The initial bond release inspection for this bond release application (SL-09) was conducted on October 13, 14, 15 and 16, 2008. Down cutting and erosion was observed in the reclaimed drainages in parcels H-C-03 and F-AB-05 and minor gully formation was observed in parcels H-C-04 and D-B-04. The Division requested the above mentioned areas be repaired and re- inspected prior to a proposed decision. A follow-up inspection was conducted on November 12, 2008 to check completed repair work on areas noted by the Division on the initial inspection. All sites requiring repair, as noted by the Division, were repaired adequately with no further problems noted. Three different range community standards that the reclaimed parcels are compared to are Range Site C, Range Site B, and Range Site A. Range Site C standards apply to elevations below 6700 feet, Range Site B standards apply to elevations above 6700 feet and below 7200 feet, and Range Site A standards apply to elevations greater that 7200 feet (permit section 4.4.1). Contiguous areas of Range Site A and Range Site B seeded in the same year and receiving similar reclamation practices may be lumped together into one Range Site AB parcel. When the bond release blocks are comprised of both A and B range site areas, cover and production standards for Range Site A will be applied to the block relative to demonstrating reclamation success (Permit section 4.4.1.5). Permit topsoil depth requirement on rangeland is 12 inches plus or minus 2 inches (permit page Trapper Mine Page 6 December 2, 2008 Phase III Bond Release