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approved reclamation plan, and the final inspection procedures of 3.a3.2 have been satisfied. This shall <br />not be before the expiration of the period specified far revegetation responsibility in 3.02.3." Rule <br />3.43,1(4 states, ", Na bond shall be fully released until all reclamation requirements of these Rules and <br />the Act are fully met,..". The same rule goes an to state, „ No acreage shall be released from the permit <br />area until all surface coal mining and reclamation operations an that acreage have been completed in <br />accordance with the approved reclamation plan,,, <br />The approved past-mining land use is predominantly rangeland with some areas of dryland pasture. The <br />sagebrush reference area and the reclaimed areas are relatively flat, are located ate the same relative <br />elevation, and received the same treatment during the study years. The reclaimed vegetative community <br />is a perennial grass community with some forts and shrubs in low percentages. <br />The post-mining topography map shows the approved post-mining contours at New Horizon Mine 1. <br />Phase I bond release was approved for the New Horizon Mine 1 area in December,1994 and August, <br />1994. No roblems were identified with the post-mining contours New Horizon Kline 1 during these <br />P <br />releases ?51?-43 and ??-44}. <br />The New Horizon Mine 1 disturbed area was seeded with a pastureland seed mix. A description of the <br />pastureland seed mix used on the New Horizon Mine 1 is located in the permit as seed mix 5. New <br />Horizon Mine 1 disturbed areas were seeded at various tunes fzom 1978 through 1990. <br />The post-mining land use has been approved as rangeland. New Horizon Mine 1 has allowed controlled <br />cattle grazing at the Mine 1 site. The absence of excess erosion features and the vegetation annual <br />recovery indicate the reclaimed area is capable of supporting limited rangeland use. lnaplementatian of <br />the post-mining land use verifies that the reclaimed land is capable of suppart?ng the post-m?nxng land <br />use. <br />Western Fuels-Colorado provided sedimentalogy demonstrations via RUSLE modeling. The model <br />provided compares sediment yield from past-mine rangeland conditions to pre-mine sagebrush <br />conditions. Western Fuels-?olarada's demonstration indicated that the reclaimed slopes produce slightly <br />less sediment than the area in apre-mine condition. The law incidence of rill and gully formation on the <br />reclaimed slopes, as observed in 1?ivisian inspections, further support this modeling result. The <br />requirements of Rule 3.43.1?3??b? have been met. <br />III. +??SERVATI[INS AND FINDIN?? <br />An on the ground inspection was performed an C?ctaber 2, 2001, to verify that the conditions of the <br />ermit and bond release application were met. Reclamation activities for the bond release area took place <br />P <br />at various times between 1978 through 199(}. <br />PRASE I <br />Postmine Topography shows that all areas requested for bond release have been restored to approximate <br />original contour. Phase 1 bond release has been granted for all areas at Mine 1. (SL-03 & SL-04) <br />The postmining configuration of this area closely resembles the original contour and drainage patterns. <br />The original drainages had broad and relatively mild slopes and were well vegetated. All of the <br />permanently reclaimed drainages in the area blend into the site's original topography and aid 1n the