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Contents of this Document <br />This document contains the following seven parts: <br />1. Introduction <br />II. Background and History of the Grassy Gap Mine <br />III. Criteria for Bond Release <br />IV. Observations and Findings <br />V. Summary <br />VI. Proposed Decision <br />VII. Appendix A <br />1. Introduction: <br />Purpose of this document <br />This document presents the findings of compliance and the proposed decision of the Colorado Division of <br />Reclamation, Mining and Safety (Division) for the Termination of Jurisdiction (TOJ) at the Grassy Gap <br />Mine, Permit Number C-1981-039. The Grassy Gap Mine is a permit revocation/bond forfeiture site. The <br />permittee at the time of permit revocation and bond forfeiture was Rockcastle Coal Company (RCC). The <br />permit area under consideration for termination of jurisdiction and final liability release is 1086.0 acres. Of <br />these 1086.0 acres, 336.9 were disturbed and subsequently reclaimed. Six pits were mined at the Grassy <br />Gap Mine using surface mining techniques. Of the 1086.0 acres within the permit area, 840.0 acres are <br />privately-owned surface overlying privately-owned coal. Of the remaining 246.0 permit area acres, 206.0 <br />are privately-owned surface overlying federally-leased coal and 40.0 acres are State-owned surface <br />overlying federally-leased coal. Of the 40.0 acres of State-owned surface, approximately one-acre was <br />disturbed and subsequently reclaimed. This termination of jurisdiction process (SL-02) was initiated by the <br />Division following two years of vegetation sampling at the, site and completion of a ten-year liability period <br />following revegetation of the disturbed areas. <br />Background Information Sources <br />The Division has followed the requirements for review, public notice, and public participation as required <br />for a bond release application in accordance with Rule 3.03. Detailed information about the bond release <br />review process can be found in the Colorado Surface Coal Mining Reclamation Act, the Regulations of the <br />Colorado Mined Land Reclamation Board for Coal Mining, and the Guideline Regarding Selected Coal <br />Mine Bond Release Issues dated April 18, 1995. Detailed information about mining and reclamation <br />operations at the Grassy Gap Mine can be found in the permanent program mining and reclamation permit <br />application (C-1981-039) and associated records on file at the Division's offices, located at 1313 Sherman <br />Street, Room 215, Denver, Colorado. <br />Grassy Gap TOJ 6/5/2009 2