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rabbitbrush, with an understory dominated by annual brome (typical for the general area), and various <br />seeded grasses including alkali sacaton, needle & thread, and western wheatgrass. Various noxious <br />species are present in areas adjacent to the reclaimed corridor, including tamarisk, whitetop, and <br />Russian knapweed. These species have been sprayed on the disturbed and adjacent area in recent <br />years by the operator, and have been successfully controlled on the reclamation. The only noxious <br />plants observed on the reclaimed corridor were a couple individual tamarisk plants and a couple <br />individual musk thistle plants. The corridor is immediately adjacent to the Union Pacific railroad <br />tracks and access road (see Photo No. 6), and some impacts of the industrial use were evident along <br />the corridor, including compaction in areas where vehicles had used the corridor as a parking and <br />turn- around area. Also, it appeared that weed spray used by Union Pacific along the rail line may <br />have drifted onto the corridor and impacted shrubs along the western perimeter of the reclamation in a <br />couple locations. These are impacts that might be expected at the site, given the immediately <br />adjacent rail line and maintenance road. <br />In conclusion, vegetation establishment is satisfactory to control erosion, and meets the criterion of <br />4.15.10(2) for the industrial /commercial postmining land use. The site will be actively used by Union <br />Pacific Railroad following final bond release for service access and maintenance of the rail line. The <br />industrial postmine land use has been established and is being implemented at the former Overland <br />Conveyor area for which bond release is being requested. <br />Nothing was identified during this inspection that would preclude full bond release for the <br />approximate 2.1 reclaimed acres located adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad and south of 19/10 <br />Road, which was formerly used by the Roadside Portals Mine for an Overland Conveyor. <br />Summary and Conclusions <br />The Division has completed its review and evaluation of the Phase II and III bond release request <br />submitted by SCC for the Roadside Portals Mine, Overland Conveyor area. Based upon a review of <br />the mine permit, the applicant's bond release application, and site inspections, the Division finds that <br />Snowcap Coal Company, Inc. has successfully completed all surface coal mining reclamation operations <br />at the Overland Corridor in accordance with the approved reclamation plan, and has met all <br />requirements of the Act and Rules. The entire corridor reclaimed area for which bond release was <br />requested is stable and in good condition. There were no signs of serious erosion or instability and <br />there is good vegetative cover. The reclaimed area will support the approved postmine industrial land <br />use. <br />Page 7 <br />