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October 31, 2008
<br /> Oakridge Energy, Inc.
<br /> 4613 Jacksboro Highway
<br /> Wichita Falls, TX 76302
<br /> October 29, 2008, Carbon Junction Mine, DRMS Permit# C-92-080
<br /> Phase II & III bond release inspection (Phase I, II, III on former equipment yard)
<br /> Michael Savage, Savage & Savage consultants
<br /> Tom Kaldenbach, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (DRMS)
<br /> Henry Austin, USDI / Office of Surface Mining (OSM)
<br /> I participated in a Phase III bond release inspection at the Carbon Junction Mine as indicated
<br /> above. This inspection was for the July 30, 2008, Phase II &III bond release application (SL-4),
<br /> that was found complete by DRMS on October 10, 2008. Weather was cool and clear, and
<br /> ground conditions were dry throughout the mine. This is a completely reclaimed, private coal
<br /> mine (no federal coal or federal surface acreage). DRMS Minerals permit M-92-116 (sand &
<br /> gravel) is located east and adjacent to this permit area.
<br /> Prior to and after the inspection I reviewed public information records at the La Plata County
<br /> Courthouse in Durango, CO,which included the following: Technical Revision# 15 dated
<br /> 11/19/07 (Sedimentology demonstrations necessary to remove sediment ponds), Quantitative
<br /> revegetation evaluation by Savage & Savage in 2007, DRMS Phase I bond release (SL-03)
<br /> Proposed Decision for 28.63 acres dated 4/21/08,and the June 27, 2008 DRMS Minor Revision#
<br /> 6 regarding an existing ground cover study completed by Savage & Savage in 2008. This minor
<br /> revision addressed Permit Stipulation# 10,parts 1 and 2.Finally, bond release SL-4 was
<br /> reviewed. Copies of all the required letter notifications to the mine permit area landowner,
<br /> adjacent landowners, local, state & federal governmental agencies, water, sewage, local and
<br /> county land use and zoning agencies (list here is not all inclusive) are included in SL-4. To the
<br /> best of my ability, it appears all notifications required have been made and copies included in the
<br /> Sl-4 application, as well as the local newspaper Public Notice describing SL-4.
<br /> The SL-4 application indicates the following acreage for the permit area: Total permit area-
<br /> 192.77 acres,total disturbed acreage-37.61 acres, and the area sought for Phase III release in SL-
<br /> 4 is approximately 30 acres. The 30 acres includes the former North Pit,North Pit Haul Road,
<br /> Topsoil Stockpile#2,the previously reclaimed spoils area, South Pit drill pad, Equipment yard,
<br /> Carbon Junction Canyon reconstruction channel, Topsoil stockpile#7, and minor ancillary areas
<br /> as described in the SL-4 application. The original bond here was $816,526' the current bond is
<br /> $377,723, and $237,356 is requested for release on the approximately 30 acres subject to this
<br /> inspection as described in the SL- 4 application.
<br /> Mr. Kaldenbach began the inspection at the North Pit reclaimed area. This area is stable with
<br /> good vegetative cover. Mr. Kaldenbach requested minor erosion maintenance at one small rill
<br /> beginning at the upslope, undisturbed rock outcrop interface with replaces soils. This outcrop-
<br /> soils interface as a whole is stable in all other locations we observed at the North Pit.
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