Laserfiche WebLink
J. E. STOVER & ASSOCIATES, INC. <br />2352 NORTH 7th STREET, UNIT B <br />GRAND JUNCTION, COLORADO 81501 <br />PHONE: (970) 245-4101, FAX 242-7908 <br />MINE ENGINEERING <br />MINE RECLAMATION <br />October 29, 2009 <br />PHASE II BOND RELEASE LETTER <br />Dear People: <br />CIVIL ENGINEERING <br />CONST. MANAGEMENT <br />Honeywood Coal Company operated the Hamilton Mine from March 1992 to July 1993. The coal <br />sales contract was not renewed in 1993. Therefore, during the third and fourth quarters of 1993 the <br />mine site was reclaimed. Reclamation of the mine involved regrading the area to approximate <br />original contours, replacing topsoil and seeding and mulching the disturbed areas. Supplemental <br />seeding was performed in 1995 and 1998. Vegetation has become well established during the <br />ensuing years. A vegetation study performed in July 2009 shows the reclaimed mine site has better <br />plant cover than the undisturbed adjacent areas and the reference areas. Therefore, vegetation on <br />the reclaimed mine site meets the approved success standard for cover and supports the approved <br />postmining land use of rangeland and wildlife habitat. All reclamation work has been performed in <br />accordance with plans approved by the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety. <br />One provision of the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety's Rules is that the mine must be <br />bonded for the estimated reclamation cost. Now that a portion of the reclamation work has been <br />performed and vegetation has been established, Honeywood Coal Company has formerly requested <br />a phase II bond release from the Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety. Honeywood Coal <br />Company has a bond of $447,281 and has requested that $330,000 of that amount be released. In <br />accordance with the Division's Rule 3.03.2(1), Honeywood Coal Company., is required to send <br />written notice of its phase II bond release request to adjacent land owners, surface owners and <br />various local governing bodies. <br />The area for which phase II bond release is being requested is the Hamilton Mine site. The <br />reclaimed mine site is located approximately 2.5 miles southeast of Naturita in portions of Section <br />33, Township 46 North, Range15 West, N.M.P.M. Montrose County, CO. <br />Sincerely, <br />J. E. Stover, P.E. <br />Consulting Engineer